REPORT 

OF  THE 

PUBLIC 

WELFARE  COMMISSION 

OF 

GRAND  RAPIDS,  MICHIGAN 

Presented  to  the  Common  Council, 

November  10, 1913 

Published  by  order  of 

THE  COMMON  COUNCIL, 

James  Schrlver,  City  Clerk 

PENINSULAR  PRESS  <^^»7  PRINTERS 


THE 


PUBLIC  WELFARE  COMMISSION 

of  the 

CITY  OF  GRAND  RAPIDS, 
MICHIGAN 


JOHN  WYGMANS,  Chairman 

JAMES  HOOGERHYDE,  Secretary 
REV.  RUSSELL  BREADY 
REV.  M.  J.  GALLAGHER 
DR.  J.  G.  HUIZENGA 
DR.  C.  C.  SLEMONS 
GERRITT  VERBURG 
FRED  ZIERLEYN 


Note: — Rev.  Melvin  E.  Trotter  was  appointed  by  the  Mayor, 
but  was  unable  to  serve  owing  to  absence  from  the  city. 

Rev.  M.  J.  Gallagher  served  only  a short  time  owing  to  ill 
health  and  the  pressure  of  other  matters. 


m.r 
(k  G 


To  the  Honorable  Mayor  and  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Grand 
Rapids : 


Gentlemen : — The  commission  appointed,  January  13,  1913,  by 
your  honorable  body  to  investigate  the  relation  of  wages  to  the 
social  evil  respectively  submits  the  following: 

Shortly  after  its  appointment  the  commission  met  and  perfected 
organization.  After  some  discussion  it  was  decided  to  assume  the 
name  of  “Public  Welfare  Commission.” 

The  following  committees  were  appointed : 

Labor  Conditions — Fred  Zierleyn,  Rev.  M.  J.  Gallagher,  Gerritt 
Verburg. 

Public  Amusements  and  Morals — Rev.  Russell  Bready,  Dr.  C. 
C.  Slemons,  John  Wygmans. 

Health  and  Housing — Dr.  C.  C.  Slemons,  Dr.  J.  G.  Huizenga, 
Tames  Hoogerhyde. 

Legislation — Dr.  J.  G.  Huizenga,  Rev.  M.  J.  Gallagher,  John 
Wygmans. 

The  scope  of  the  commission  was  outlined  as  follows  :v  That 
while  it  was  primarily  a commission  to  investigate  and  report  upon 
:he  relation  between  wages  and  immorality,  still  it  would  be  well 
to  also  consider  and  report  upon  such  conditions  as  were  found 
during  its  investigation  as  would  be  susceptible  to  remedy  and  assist 
in  minimizing  the  social  evil,  believing  it  of  sufficient  importance  to 
make  it  worthy  of  being  made  a portion  of  this  report. 

As  this  commission  was  an  investigating  and  not  a prosecuting 
body,  we  have  carefully  omitted  from  this  report  all  names  and 
addresses,  in  place  of  these  we  have  used  numbers.  The  definite 
names  and  addresses,  however,  are  on  file  in  the  records  of  the  com- 
mission. 

Great  difficulty  was  encountered  in  securing  considerable  of 
this  data,  owing  to  the  limited  powers  of  the  commission.  Having 
no  authority  to  subpoenae  and  examine  witnesses  under  oath,  it 
was  deemed  wise  to  send  out  requests  to  employers  to  appear  before 
the  commission  and  assist  it  in  reaching  a fair  conclusion.  Only 
four  employers  so  responded.  A large  number  of  question  blanks 
were  sent  out  to  employes  requesting  information  as  to  wages  and 
living  conditions,  but  very  few  were  returned  complete,  either 
through  reluctance  to  disclose  their  private  affairs  or  through 
a fear  of  loss  of  employment  if  the  employer  became  aware  that 
such  information  had  been  given,  though  assurance  was  given 
that  such  information  would  be  held  confidential  and  names  would 


3— 


not  be  published.  However,  we  believe  sufficient  data  has  been 
gathered  to  give  a fair  idea  of  the  wages  paid  in  this  city  in  various 
occupations,  and  of  the  conditions  which  surround  the  female 
worker  in  her  struggle  to  maintain  herself. 

To  secure  reliable  information  we  found  it  necessary  to  have 
our  investigators  obtain  employment  in  the  places  reported  on,  ex- 
cept where  information  was  obtained  from  the  laborers  direct.  The 
typical  cases  throughout  this  report  are  taken  from  the  reports  of 
the  investigators  in  the  employ  of  the  commission,  investigators 
that  have  had  experience  along  these  lines,  and  these  are  given  as 
their  findings. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

John  Wygmans,  Chairman 

James,  Hoogerhyde,  Secretary 

J.  G.  Huizinga 

Fred  A.  Zierleyn 

Gerrit  Verburg 

Russell  H.  Bready 

C.  C.  Slemons. 


ttOTi.  RAA  i i wt  . PTTTQ«e>-r 


INVESTIGATION  S 

Wages  Paid  the  Female  Worker. 

An  investigation  of  (1)  was  secured  by  one  of  our  investigators 
obtaining  a position  in  the  stripping  room  of  a cigar  factory.  We 
found  that  this  company  pay  the  girls  $3.50  per  week  for  the  first 
week  second  week  and  thereafter  are  paid  by  piece  work,  strippers 
receive  25  cents  per  bushel  for  removing  the  stems  from  tobacco 
leaves  The  average  number  of  bushels  stripped  per  day  .is  between 
three  and  one-half  and  four.  Some  girls  receive  seven  and  eight 
cents  per  hour  for  this  kind  of  work. 

(2)  had  worked  at  stripping  for  a period  of  four  weeks,  her 
average  wage  was  $3.75  per  week. 

(3)  had  been  in  the  employ  of  company  for  some  time,  was  a 
stripper  and  her  average  wage  was  $5.50  per  week.  This  girl  had 
no  father,  and  helped  her  mother  support  a younger  sister  and 
brother. 

We  found  that  the  moral  conditions  surrounding  _ the  female 
employes  were  not  the  best,  the  foreman  (5)  asked  our  investigator 
to  accompany  him  to  (6)  some  night.  This  party  also  uses  rough 
language  in  the  presence  of  the  girls.  The  hours  here  aie  fiom 
7 : 1 5 a.  m.  to  5.45  p.  m. 

The  female  cigarmakers  receive  thirty  cents  per  hundred  and 
‘he  average  wage  in  this  department  is  $8.35  per  week.  Under  a 
system  of  penalties,  which  requires  the  cigarmakers  to  make  one 
hundred  and  thirty  cigars  from  a pad  weighing  eleven  and  three- 
quarters  ounces,  they  are  fined  twenty-five  cents  for  each  hundred 
short,  this  being  deducted  from  their  wages.  We  found  that  the 
majority  of  the  girls  employed  here  reside  at  home  and  that  the 
average  amount  paid  for  board  is  three  dollars  per  week. 

At  the  (7)  where  our  investigator  worked  in  the  (8)  depart- 
ment we  found  that  the  saleswomen  were  not  allowed  to  sit  down 
when  not  waiting  on  trade,  they  were  told  to  stand  and  keep  busy, 
this  being  in  direct  violation  of  the  state  law.  The  manager  {V)  in- 
terviews the  applicant  and  engages  the  help  at  as  low  a salary 
possible.  The  girls  with  no  experience  receive  from  $3.5U  to  i^.UU 
oer  week  Cash  girls  receive  from  $2.50  to  $3.50  per  week.  When 
the  manager  of  this  place  appeared  before  the  commission  m re- 
sponse to  our  invitation  we  were  told  that  in  employing  girls  e 
always  showed  a preference  for  the  girl  that  lived  at  home,  these 
girls  having  a better  appearance.  This  manager  employs  many 
girls,  but  had  no  idea  what  amount  a girl  could  live  on,  there  was 
no  consideration  given  the  cost  o£  living.  Business  was  the  only 
consideration  in  fixing  a wage  for  a girl,  other  things  did  not  mat- 


ter,  he  stated. 

At  this  place  we  found  it  difficult  to  secure  information  as  the 
girls  had  been  instructed  to  give  out  no  information  as  to  wages 
they  received,  the  reason  given  that  it  caused  dissatisfaction  among 
the  employes. 

(10)  aged  about  twenty-two,  received  $6.00  per  week,  her  board 
and  room  cost  her  $3.50  per  week,  and  she  told  our  investigator 
that  she  found  it  very  hard  to  make  both  ends  meet. 

(11)  about  twenty-three  years  of  age  told  our  investigator  that 
if  she  were  not  staying  at  home  she  would  be  unable  to  live  on  her 
salary,  she  made  $6.50  per  week.  The  hours  of  work  here  are  fifty- 
two  hours, per  week,  the  sanitary  conditions  were  found  to  be  fair, 
working  conditions  and  surroundings  not  the  best. 

At  the  (12)  we  found  that  the  moral  surroundings  were  very 
bad,  in  one  department  the  girls  were  allowed  unlimited  use  of  the 
phone  and  the  head  of  this  department  was  aware  of  this.  The  name 
of  the  manager  (13).  The  following  girls  made  dates  with  our  male 
investigator  over  the  phone,  during  working  hours,  (14),  (15),  (16), 
(17),  (18).  These  women  are  of  the  type  that  increase  their  earn- 
ings by  going  out  with  men  after  working  hours.  The  average  wage 
in  this  department  is  $6.00  per  week.  (19)  is  manager  of  the  com- 
pany. 

(20)  has  worked  with  this  company  for  three  years  and  re- 
ceived $5.00  per  week  and  two  per  cent  on  the  sales  she  made,  some 
weeks  this  per  cent  would  average  $3.50.  (21)  received  the  same 

wages.  The  girls  are  started  at  a wage  of  $5.00  per  week.  (22)  who 
was  assistant  manager  received  $30.00  per  week.  Sanitary  condi- 
tions were  found  to  be  good,  moral  conditions  very  bad  in  one  de- 
partment and  good  in  two  other  departments. 

At  the  (23)  we  found  that  the  average  wage  paid  girls  was 
$4.56  and  the  hours  of  work  fifty-four  per  week.  (24)  manager  of 
the  company.  (25)  floor  walker,  does  the  employing.  Our  in- 
vestigator was  asked  if  she  resided  at  home  and  she  told  (25)  that 
she  did  not,  she  was  started  to  work  at  $4.00  per  week.  A woman 
not  living  at  home  and  still  this  man  expected  her  to  live  on  $4.00 
per  week. 

Our  investigator  applied  to  (26)  for  a position.  Here  she  was 
told  that  this  company  always  started  a girl  at  $6.00  per  week, 
that  they  increased  this  wage  as  the  girls  showed  the  management 
they  were  worth  more.  (27)  aged  seventeen  worked  at  (28)  during 
the  holiday  season,  she  was  paid  $4.00  per  week  for  fifty-four  hours 
work.  The  average  wage  paid  at  this  company  is  $4.50  per  week. 
This  same  girl  worked  at  (29)  and  received  nine  cents  an  hour 
working  fifty-four  hours  per  week. 

Our  investigator  obtained  a position  at  (30)  and  received  $5.00 
per  week  to  begin.  This  is  the  prevailing  wage  for  beginners,  a 
raise  of  fifty  cents  is  given  every  six  months.  (31)  aged  fourteen 
years,  working  as  a cash  girl  received  $3.00  per  week,  she  lived  at 

—6— 


home  with  her  parents.  (32)  aged  nineteen  years,  clerking,  re- 
ceived $5.00  per  week.  (33)  same  work,  received  the  same  wage, 
both  these  girls  lived  at  home  with  their  parents.  (34)  clerking, 
aged  about  nineteen,  received  $6.00  per  week,  she  boards  away  from 
home,  was  going  with  a man  that  gave  her  money,  this  girl  is  of 
the  type  known  as  a “kept  woman.”  While  at  this  place  our  in- 
vestigator was  clerking  in  one  of  the  departments,  she  was  asked 
by  (35)  who  has  an  office  in  this  place,  to  go  with  him  some  even- 
ing to  the  office  of  (36),  where  they  would  be  alone  as  (36)  was  not 
in  the  office  at  that  time,  in  return  he  was  to  take  investigator  out 
for  a good  time.  Another  party  (37)  who  has  a store  in  the  south 
end  of  town  wanted  investigator  to  go  out  with  him,  in  return  she 
was  to  receive  a silk  dress.  (38)  floor  walker,  (39)  manager  of 
this  company. 

At  the  (40)  our  investigator  found  that  they  employ  about  one 
hundred  girls,  that  the  average  entrance  wage  is  $3.50  per  week. 
That  the  girls  receive  a raise  of  twenty-five  cents  a month  until  they 
receive  seven  and  eight  dollars  per  week.  (41)  is  the  manager  and 
(42)  is  the  superintendent.  In  the  packing  room  (43)  was  foreman. 

(44)  has  worked  here  one  year  and  received  $5.00  per  week, 
she  boards  at  home  and  pays  $2.50  per  week  to  her  parents,  she  buys 
he  own  clothes.  While  working  at  this  place  our  investigator  saw 
(45)  and  (46)  who  showed  investigator  their  hands  and  fingers 
that  had  become  burned  from  handling  bakery  goods  that  they 
were  made  to  pack  while  hot  and  direct  from  the  ovens.  Moral 
conditions  here  were  found  to  be  good.  Cleanliness  on  the  part  of 
the  employes  was  not  properly  enforced. 

At  the  (47)  girls  were  found  to  receive  a wage  of  $3.00  as 
beginners,  with  a promise  of  an  increase,  hours  required  to  work 
fifty-four  per  week. 

The  girls  employed  at  the  (48)  receive  $5.00  per  week  to  start 
and  work  fifty-four  hours  per  week,  all  overtime  is  paid  for  at  the 
rate  of  time  and  one-half.  (49)  receives  $5.00  per  week,  lives  at 
home  with  her  parents. 

While  employed  at  the  (50)  our  investigator  found  that  the 
average  age  of  the  girls  employed  was  twenty  years.  (51)  manager, 
(52)  foreman  of  the  first  floor,  (53)  foreman  of  the  second  floor 
and  (54)  foreman  of  the  third  floor.  The  starting  wage  is  $4.00 
per  week ; hours,  fifty-three  per  week. 

(55)  eighteen  years  of  age  has  worked  here  two  and  one-half 
years  and  makes  $7.00  per  week,  she  lives  with  her  parents. 

(56)  nineteen  years  of  age  has  worked  here  three  years  and 
makes  $9.00  per  week,  this  girl  gave  her  parents  all  the  money  she 
earned. 

(57)  married,  about  thirty-five  years  of  age  has  worked  here 
three  years  and  makes  $7.00  per  week.  Her  husband  worked  every 
day  and  his  average  pay  was  $12.00  per  week. 

(58)  sixteen  years  of  age  makes  $4.00  per  week,  she  lives  with 

—7— 


her  married  sister  and  pays  her  $1.00  dollar  per  week  and  helps 
with  the  housework  when  she  comes  home  from  work. 

A statement  of  the  (59)  showing  average  wage  received  is 
given  below.  Before  the  commission  the  manager  stated  that  he 
believed  $6.50  was  the  lowest  wage  a girl  could  live  on. 

The  manager  also  stated  that  it  was  believed  the  raising  of 
the  minimum  pay  to  $6.50  and  the  going  into  effect  of  the  nine-hour 
law  for  women  would  appreciably  effect  the  company  financially, 
but  that  after  matters  became  adjusted  they  found  the  change  had 
but  little  effect  and  was  more  than  compensated  for  by  the  con- 
tentment and  satisfaction  of  their  employes.  He  further  stated  that 
it  was  expected  to  raise  the  minimum  to  $7.50  as  soon  as  a proper 
readjustment  could  be  worked  out.  This  gentleman  was  excep- 
tionally fair  in  his  attitude  toward  his  employes  and  stated  he  be- 
lieved the  time  had  come  when  the  employe  should  be  regarded 
as  something  more  than  a machine  and  should  be  allowed  to  share 
in  the  prosperity  of  the  place  in  which  they  were  employed.  Out  of 
the  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  women  employed  at  this  place  it 


was  found  that 

Thirty-nine  days  workers  received $6.50  to  $6.75 

Twenty-five  day  workers  received 7.02  to  7.29 

Twenty-seven  day  workers  received 7.56  to  7.83 

Two  day  workers  received ’ 8.00 

Nine  day  workers  received 9.00 

Two  day  workers  received 9.50 

Five  day  workers  received 10.00 

One  day  worker  received 11.00 

Two  day  workers  received 12.00 

One  day  worker  received 15.00 

Eighteen  piece  workers  received 6.50  to  10.50 

Twenty  piece  workers  received 9.00  to  14.00 

Average  wage  paid  female  employes 8.30  per  week 


At  the  (60)  we  found  that  the  number  of  female  workers  were 
seventy,  that  the  average  age  was  eighteen  years,  that  the  average 
wage  paid  was  $5.33  per  week.  That  the  highest  wage  was  $12.00 
per  week.  (61)  manager,  before  the  commission,  stated  that  he 
preferred  girls  living  at  home  as  they  worked  for  less.  When  asked 
if  in  his  opinion  a girl  could  live  respectably  on  $6.00  per  week,  he 
replied  that  they  could. 

At  the  (62)  we  found  that  they  employed  fifteen  women,  that 
two  received  $20.00  per  month,  five  received  $35.00  per  month,  two 
received  $40.00  per  month,  three  received  $45.00  per  month,  one 
received  $50.00  per  month,  one  received  $60.00  per  month,  and  one 
received  $65.00  per  month.  The  women  in  this  place  argiasked  to 
work  on  Sunday  occasionally,  (63)  manager  of  the  company. 

At  the  (64)  we  found  that  all  work  is  done  on  a piece  work 
basis.  A girl  starting  work  here  makes  from  $3.00  to  $4.00  per 
week,  after  some  experience  she  can  make  $7.00  to  $8.00  per  week. 


It  requires  from  five  to  six  months  to  become  an  experienced  coat 
and  vest  maker.  The  hours  required  to  work,  fifty-two.  Sanitary 
and  working  conditions  were  found  to  be  fair. 

(65)  reported  to  us  that  she  was  employed  by  (66)  as  domestic 
and  received  $2.50  per  week  with  board  and  room,  the  room  she 
had  was  a small  one  in  the  attic  and  without  heat  in  the  winter. 
This  same  girl  left  here  and  secured  a position  with  (67)  and  she 
received  $3.00  per  week  to  start  with  and  a promise  of  a raise  in  two 
weeks. 

(68)  employed  at  the  (69)  receives  $5.00  per  week,  she  boards 
at  home.  Sanitary  and  moral  conditions  are  good. 

(70)  employed  at  (71)  received  $4.00  per  week  and  works  from 
7 :00  a.  m.  to  5 :45  p.  m.,  out  of  this  the  girl  pays  $3.00  per  week  for 
board,  leaving  her  $1.00  for  clothes  and  other  expenses.  (72)  em- 
ployed at  (73)  received  $4.00  per  week  for  fifty-four  hours  work, 
she  lived  at  home. 

(74)  aged  eighteen  working  for  (75)  receives  eight  cents  per 
hour,  for  nine  hours  and  fifty  minutes  work  per  day.  She  pays 
$3.00  per  week  for  her  board,  and  sixty  cents  per  week  for  carfare. 
This  girl  says  that  if  she  were  to  be  taken  sick  and  could  not  work 
she  would  have  to  have  outside  aid. 

We  found  that  the  average  wage  for  female  coremakers  is 
$1.00  to  $1.75  per  day  of  nine  hours.  Women  in  bakeries  average 
93  cents  per  day  of  nine  hours.  Women  garment  workers  average 
$1.10  per  day  of  nine  hours.  Laundry  workers  average  $1.17  per 
day  of  nine  hours  work.  Canning  factory  workers  from  90  cents 
to  $1.40  per  day  of  nine  to  thirteen  hours  work. 

(76)  widow,  aged  forty,  two  children  working,  wage  of  chil- 
dren $6.00  and  $3.50  per  week.  (76)  takes  in  washing,  receives 
aid  from  the  city  poor  department,  they  are  paying  off  a $300.00 
mortgage  on  their  home,  children  are  sixteen  and  seventeen  years 
of  age. 

(77)  widow,  aged  sixty-four,  domestic,  charge  on  city  poor 
department,  her  average  wage  is  $4.00  per  week,  she  says  that 
without  aid  from  city  she  would  starve. 

One  other  place  deserves  especial  mention  because  of  its  atti- 
tude toward  its  employes.  The  female  employes,  who  number 
fourten  or  fifteen,  in  this  factory  receive  from  $12.00  to  as  high  as 
$16.00  per  week,  and  while  the  employment  needs  careful  atten- 
tion, it  is  not  what  can  be  called  skilled  labor.  The  work  here  is 
piece  work,  but  from  all  appearances  the  girls  were  not  straining 
to  do  a certain  amount,  though  working  steadily,  but  seemed  con- 
tented and  happy.  The  manager  stated  that  this  policy  had  been 
adopted  through  a desire  to  *reat  fairly  with  their  employes,  be- 
lieving that  the  interest  of  employer  and  employe  were  mutual, 
and  that  a satisfied  employe  was  one  of  the  best  assets  for  the  em- 
ployer. He  stated  that  since  the  change  had  been  made  to  the 
present  system  the  output  of  the  factory  had  been  increased  and  the 

—9— 


company  was  so  well  satisfied  that  besides  the  wages  paid,  the 
employes  received  a share  of  the  profits  of  the  company  at  the  end 
of  each  year:  This  applied  to  both  male  and  female  employes. 

There  was  also  provided  a lunch  and  rest  room  for  the  female 
employes,  and  while  this  is  true  of  a quite  a number  of  other  places 
the  attitude  of  this  company  toward  its  employes  deserves  especial 
commendation. 

The  following  data  was  secured  by  questions  asked  of  forty- 
seven  women,  professional  prostitutes,  occasional  prostitutes  and 
street-walkers.  While  a woman  in  this  life  is  not  noted  for  truth- 
fulness, the  method  the  investigator  used  to  secure  this  data  made 
the  information  secured  more  reliable  than  information  one  usually 
obtains  from  these  women.  Of  this  number  twenty-two  stated  that 
they  attributed  their  present  mode  of  living  to  being  compelled  to 
adopt  that  method  after  being  ruined  by  men.  Men  they  had  trusted 
and  found  that  their  trust  was  misplaced,  deserted,  and  several 
actually  taken  to  house  of  illfame.  Of  this  number  but  four  received 
wages  over  $7.00  per  week.  One  girl  was  making  $2.40  when  she 
went  wrong.  Of  the  four  making  over  $7.00  per  week,  one  girl 
kept  books  in  a wholesale  house  and  was  making  $12.00  per  week, 
two  of  the  girls  had  clerked  in  stores,  one  getting  $8.00  per  week 
and  the  other  $7.50,  and  one  girl  was  a saleslady  on  the  road  and 
averaged  $65.00  per  month. 

Five  girls  said  they  were  in  the  life  they  were  leading  of  their 
own  volition,  of  these  five,  one  girl  worked  in  a laundry  and  made 
$6.00  per  week,  one  girl  did  housework  and  made  $5.00  per  week 
with  board  and  room,  one  did  no  work  out  but  helped  about  her 
parents  home,  and  two  were  working  in  stores,  one  received  $4.00 
per  week  as  clerk,  and  the  other  clerk  and  cloak  model  was  paid 
$12.00  per  week. 

Twelve  girls  said  they  were  in  the  life  they  were  leading  by 
reason  of  bad  associates.  Two  had  been  married  and  deserted,  three 
had  worked  in  stores  all  making  over  $8.00  per  week  including 
commissions  on  sales,  two  did  housework,  one  girl  getting  $5.00 
per  week  with  board  and  room  and  the  other  getting  $5.50  per 
week  with  her  board  and  room,  and  five  of  the  girls  had  never 
worked  away  from  home. 

Eight  girls  attributed  their  downfall  to  low  wages,  saying  that 
they  could  not  secure  the  things  they  needed  on  the  money  they 
were  making  and  had  drifted  into  the  “easiest  way”  by  going  out 
with  men.  Of  these  eight,  two  are  still  clerking  and  going  out 
with  men  evenings,  one  makes  $7.00  per  week  and  the  other  $4.50 
per  week.  One  girl  pasted  labels  and  made  $6.00  per  week,  one 
was  an  office  girl  and  made  $6.00  per  week,  two  worked  in  hotels, 
and  two  worked  in  restaurants,  one  of  the  girls  worked  for  $8.00 
per  week  waiting  on  table  and  then  said  that  some  weeks  she  could 
make  as  high  as  $2.50  extra  in  tips. 


—10— 


WAGES  PAID  THE  MALE  WORKERS. 

The  following  was  gathered  from  various  sources,  through  in- 
vestigators* by  members  of  the  commission,  labor  organizations, 
etc.  The  furniture  industry  being  predominant  in  this  city  made 
it  possible  to  collect  a larger  amount  of  data  than  from  other  crafts, 
as  will  be  seen  from  the  report.  The  larger  number  reported  on 
having  a working  day  of  nine  hours. 

(78)  aged  thirty-seven,  works  for  (80)  as  helper,  receives 
twenty-one  cents  per  hour  for  ten  hours  work  per  day;  this  man  is 
married  and  has  five  dependents,  give?  his  average  expenses  as 
follows,  clothing  per  month  $10.00,  heating  $3.00  per  month,  food 
$25.00  per  month,  light  $1.75  per  month,  rent  $10.00  per  month,  noth- 
ing for  amusements  and  an  average  of  twenty-five  cents  per  month 
for  education  of  children. 

(79)  aged  sixty,  works  for  (80)  as  handy  man,  receives  twenty- 
four  cents  per  hour  for  ten  hours  work  per  day ; this  man  is  married, 
two  in  family,  gives  his  average  expenses  as  follows,  clothing  $5.00 
per  month,  heating  $4.50  per  month,  food  $15.00  per  month,  lighting 
$2.00  per  month,  carfare  $3.00  per  month,  illness  $2.00  per  month, 
is  paying  on  his  home. 

(81)  works  for  (80)  as  machinist,  receives  thirty-four  and  one- 
half  cents  per  hour  for  nine  hours  work.  Has  two  in  the  family 
mid  his  average  monthly  expenses  are  as  follows:  clothing  $5.00, 
heating  $1.50,  food  $25.00  lighting  $1.00,  carfare  $1.00,  rent  $14.00, 
nothing  for  education  and  small  amount  for  amusements,  say 
twenty-five  cents  per  week.  He  is  thirty-five  years  of  age. 

(82)  single,  aged  thirty-seven,  supports  his  father  and  mother, 
works  for  (80)  as  boilermaker,  wage  is  thirty-four  and  one-half 
cents  per  hour  for  nine  hours  work ; his  monthly  expenses  he  gives 
as  follows : clothing  $7.00,  heating  $7.00,  food  $30.00,  lighting  $2.50, 
carfare  $3.00,  illness  $40.00  last  year,  rent  $18.00  amusements  he 
says'  cost  him  $5.00  per  month. 

(83)  single,  aged  thirty-seven,  no  dependents,  average  wage  is 
twenty-one  cents  per  hour  for  nine  hours  work.  He  says  clothing 
cost  him  $5.00  per  month,  room  $8.00  per  month,  and  meals  $15.00 
per  month.  He  is  a helper  and  works  at  (80). 

(84)  married,  aged  thirty-five,  six  dependents,  works  for  (80) 
as  machinist,  receives  thirty-five  cents  per  hour  for  nine  hours  per 
day  and  works  seven  days  in  the  week.  He  gives  his  monthly  ex- 
penses as  follows : Owns  his  home,  carfare  $2.00,  education  $10.00, 
lighting  $1.00,  food  $40.00,  heating  $3.00,  amusements  $1.80  per 
month. 

(85)  married,  aged  seventy-eight,  colored,  has  two  in  family, 
charge  on  city  poor  department,  out  of  employment  at  present.  His 
monthly  expenses  are  as  follows : Lighting  25  cents,  rent  $2.00  per 
month,  food  and  clothing  from  city  and  from  friends,  his  wife  does 
washings,  sanitary  conditions  around  home  very  bad. 

(86)  married,  aged  about  thirty-five,  two  dependents,  works 

—11— 


for  (87)  receives  forty-one  cents  per  hour  for  eight  hours  work. 
Gives  his  monthly  expenses  as  follows:  Food  $25.00,  light  $3.00, 
amusements  $5.00,  carfare  $1.00,  rent  $10.00,  no  expense  for  illness 
the  last  year. 

(88)  married,  three  dependents,  works  for  (80)  as  machinist, 
receives  thirty-four  and  one-half  cents  per  hour  for  nine  hours 
work.  Works  seven  days  in  the  week.  Gives  expenses  as  follows. 
Clothing  $12.00  per  month,  food  $20.00  per  month,'  light  $5.00  per 
month,  education  $5.00  per  month,  amusements  $1.00  per  month, 
carfare  $1.00,  illness  about  $5.00  per  month,  owns  home;  average 
expense  $12.00  per  month. 

(89)  married,  aged  forty,  four  dependents,  charge  on  the  city 
poor  department,  unable  to  work.  Pays  $5.00  per  month  for  rent, 
all  other  expenses  paid  by  charities. 

(90)  single,  aged  forty-six,  works  for  (80)  as  helper,  receives 
nineteen  cents  per  hour  for  nine  hours  work.  His  expenses  are 
given  as  follows:  Clothing  (including  washing)  $9.50  per  month, 
education  $1.00  per  month,  carfare  $1.50,  illness  $1.00,  board  and 
room  $25.00  per  month. 

(91)  married,  aged  forty,  eleven  dependents,  works  at  (80)  and 
receives  thirty-four  and  one-half  cents  per  hour  for  nine  hours  work. 
He  gives  his  monthly  expenses  as  follows:  Clothing  $15.00  per 
month,  heating  $3.50,  food  $25.00,  lighting  $1.50,  education  $6.00, 
rent  $12.00;  says  he  spends  nothing  for  amusements  and  nothing 
the  last  year  for  sickness.  • 

(92)  married,  aged  twenty-seven,  five  dependents,  works  for 
(80)  and  makes  thirty-four  and  one-half  cents  per  hour  for  nine 
hours  work.  He  states  that  the  moral  surroundings  at  his  place 
of  employment  are  very  bad.  Gives  his  expenses  per  month  as 
follows:  Clothing  $7.00,  heating  $5.00,  carfare  $1.50,  illness  $1.00; 
have  bought  a home  and' is  paying  $22.00  per  month  on  the  contract. 

(93)  married,  aged  forty-two,  works  for  (80)  receives  twenty- 
one  cents  per  hour  for  nine  hours  work,  has  five  children,  ages  three, 
five,  eight,  ten  and  sixteen.  Gives  his  monthly  expenses  as  follows : 
Clothing  $10.00,  heating  $10.00,  food  $40.00,  lighting  $3.00,  rent 
$10.00 ; no  illness  the  last  year. 

(94)  married,  aged  twenty-six,  one  child  three  years  old,  works 
for  (80)  and  receives  thirty-four  and  one-half  cents  per  hour  for  nine 
hours  work.  Says  that  sanitary  conditions  at  place  of  employment 
are  very  bad ; they  furnish  one  place  for  men  to  wash  in  and  about 
fifty  men  have  to  use  the  same  water.  Gives  his  monthly  expenses 
as  follows : Clothing  $4.25,  heating  $5.00,  food  $25.00,  rent  $20.00, 
illness  was  $8.00  last  year. 

We  have  found  that  machinists  received  from  $1.75  to  $3.50  per 
day  for  nine  hours  work.  Metal  polishers  receive  from  $2.75  to 
$4.00  per  day  for  nine  hours  work.  Molders  receive  from  $2.25  to 
$3.25  for  nine  hours  work.  Coremakers  receive  from  $2.25  to  $3.25 
for  nine  hours  work.  Horseshoers  receive  from  $3.00  to  $3.50  for 

—12— 


nine  hours.  Brass  workers  from  $2.00  to  $2.75  for  nine  hours  work. 
Punch  press  hands  receive  from  $1.25  to  $2.25  for  nine  hours.  Milk 
wagon  drivers  average  $2.25  per  day.  Pattern  makers  receive  from 
$2.75  to  $4.00  per  day  of  nine  hours.  Bakers  receive  from  $2.00  to 
$3.00  for  ten  hours  work.  Printers  receive  from  $16.00  to  $22.00  per 
week,  eight  hours  work  per  day.  Pressman  receive  from  $16.00  to 
$20.00  per  week,  eight  hours  per  day.  Press  assistants  from  $9.00 
to  $14.00  per  week,  eight  hours  per  day.  Carpenters  twenty-five  to 
forty  cents  per  hour.  Furniture  finishers  $11.00  to  $13.00  per  week. 

At  the  (95)  we  found  that  this  company  employs  forty-three 
cabinetmakers,  wage  received  from  $2.25  to  $3.10,  forty-five  machine 
hands  receive  from  $2.00  to  $2.75v  twelve  packers  and  trimmers  re- 
ceive $2.25,  veneer  hands  receive  from  $1.75  to  $2.25. 

The  (96)  has  thirty-one  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.30  per 
day,  fifty-seven  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.00  per  day  and  seven- 
teen packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  from  $2.25  to  $2.35. 

The  (97)  have  fifty-five  cabinetmakers  that  receive  from  $1.75 
to  $2.75.  thirty-three  machine  hands  that  receive  from  $2.10  to  $3.00, 
twenty-four  packers  and  trimmmers  that  receive  from  $1.75  to  $2.25 
per  day. 

Report  on  (98)  shows  that  this  company  have  ninety  cabinet- 
makers that  receive  $2.50  per  day,  sixty-five  machine  hands  that 
receive  $2.52  per  day  and  forty-eight  packers  and  trimmers  that  re- 
ceive $2.00  per  day. 

The  (99)  employ  twenty-two  cabinet  makers  that  receive  from 
82.15  to  $2.65  per  day,  twenty-three  machine  hands  that  receive 
$2.15  and  twelve  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.00  per  day. 
The  (100)  employ  six  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.25  per  day, 
sixteen  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.25  and  one  packer  and  trim- 
mer that  receives  $2.00  per  day. 

At  the  (101)  one  hundred  and  four  cabinet  makers  receive  $2.10 
per  day,  sixty-one  machine  hands  receive  $2.42,  and  nineteen  pack- 
ers and  trimmers  receive  $2.10  per  day. 

(102)  employ  thirty  four  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.27  per 
day,  thirty-one  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.45  per  day  and  six 
packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $1.95  per  day. 

(103)  employ  ninety-nine  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.16  per 
day,  forty-nine  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.30  per  day  and  twenty- 
four  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.25  per  day. 

(104)  employ  eighty-five  cabinet  makers  that  receive  from  $2.20 
to  $2.35  per  day,  seventy-two  machine  hands  that  receive  from  $1.90 
to  $2.05  per  day,  veneer  hands  receive  $1.80  per  day  and  packers 
and  trimmers  receive  from  $1.90  to  $2.05,  number  of  packers  and 
trimmers  twenty-seven. 

(105)  employ  fifty-two  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.40  per 
day,  seventy-four  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.30  per  day,  and 
twenty-two  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $1.95  per  day. 

—13— 


(106)  employ  two  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.15  per  day, 
thirty  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.15  per  day  and  one  packer  and 
trimmer  that  receives  $2.00  per  day. 

(107)  employ  forty-one  cabinet  makers  that  receive  from  $2.00 
to  $2.62  per  day,  eighty-one  machine  hands  that  receive  from  $2.10 
to  $2.30  per  day,  and  twenty-three  packers  and  trimmers  that  re- 
ceive $2.00  per  day. 

(108)  employ  forty-eight  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.00  per 
day,  eighty-eight  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.30,  and  nine  pack- 
ers and  trimmers  that  receive  $1.50  per  day. 

( 109)  pay  their  cabinet  makers  $2.10  per  day,  machine  hands 

$2.00  per  day  and  packers  and  trimmers  $1.90  per  day. 

(110)  employ  thirty-three  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.45  per 
day,  thirty-nine  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.25  per  day  and  the 
packers  and  trimmers  receive  $2.00  per  day. 

(111)  employ  twenty-three  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.75 
per  day,  thirty-one  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.40  and  ten  pack- 
ers and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.00  per  day. 

We  found  that  (112)  employ  seventy-nine  cabinet  makers  that 
receive  $2.25  per  day,  sixty-nine  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.25 
per  day  and  twenty-three  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $1.80 
per  day. 

(113)  employ  forty-eight  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.08  per 
day,  thirty-one  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.08  per  day  and  twenty- 
three  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $1.92  per  day. 

At  the  (114)  they  employ  thirty-four  cabinet  makers  that  re- 
ceive $2.25  per  day,  sixty-six  machine  hands  that  receive  $1.85  per 
day  and  thirty-three  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $1.65  per 
day. 

(115)  employ  forty-seven  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.90 
per  day,  twenty-eight  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.27  per  day  and 
two  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.25  per  day. 

(116)  employ  fifteen  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.50  per  day, 
eighteen  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.50  per  day,  and  four  packers 
and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.00  per  day. 

(117)  employ  forty-four  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.30,  fifty 
machine  hands  that  receive  $2.35  and  sixteen  packers  and  trimmers 
that  receive  $2.10  per  day. 

(118)  employ  eleven  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.40,  five 
machine  hands  that  receive  $2.40  and  one  packer  and  trimmer  that 
receives  $2.00  per  day. 

(119)  employ  only  one  cabinet  maker  that  receives  $2.25  per 
day,  employ  sixty-four  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.00  per  day 
and  one  packer  that  receives  $1.85  per  day. 

(120)  employ  sixty-one  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.00  per 
day,  eighty-two  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.10  per  day  and  thirty- 
four  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $1.75  per  day. 

—14— 


(121)  employ  fourteen  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.25  per 
day,  forty  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.00  per  day  and  nineteen 
packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.40  per  day. 

(122)  employ  six  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.60  per  day, 
fourteen  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.25  per  day  and  four  packers 
and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.00  per  day. 

(123)  employ  seven  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.00  per  day, 
eight  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.25  per  day  and  one  packer  that 
receives  $2.00  per  day. 

(124)  employ  sixty- three  cabinet  makers  that  receive  from  $2.48 
to  $2.75  per  day,  fifty-five  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.26  per  day, 
twenty-nine  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.05  per  day,  the 
veneer  hands  receive  $2.06  per  day. 

(125)  employ  twelve  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.55  per  day, 
three  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.40  per  day  and  one  packer  that 
receives  $2.25  per  day. 

At  the  (126)  we  found  that  they  employ  thirty-seven  cabinet 
makers  that  receive  $2.00  per  day,  forty  machine  hands  that  receive 
S2.20  per  day  and  twenty-two  packers  and  trimmers  that  receive 
from  $1.60  to  $1.96  per  day. 

(127)  employ  thirteen  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.50  per 
day,  eight  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.50  and  three  packers  and 
trimmers  that  receive  $2.00  per  day. 

At  the  (128)  they  employ  one  cabinet  maker  that  receives  $2.00 
per  day,  thirteen  machine  hands  that  receive  $1.85  and  one  packer 
that  receives  $1.85  per  day. 

(129)  employ  four  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.40  per  day, 
twelve  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.20  per  day  and  five  packers 
and  trimmers  that  receive  $1.85  per  day. 

(130)  employ  four  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.75  per  day, 
eight  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.30  per  day  and  eight  packers 
and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.25  per  day. 

(131)  employ  sixteen  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.25  per 
day,  fifteen  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.25  per  day  and  four 
packers  and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.15  per  day. 

(132)  employ  four  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.75  per  day, 
three  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.70  per  day  and  one  packer  that 
receives  $2.75  per  day. 

(133)  employ  seven  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.10  per  day, 
seven  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.10  per  day  and  three  packers 
and  trimmers  that  receive  $1.90  per  day. 

(134)  employ  seven  cabinet  makers  that  receive  $2.25  per  day, 
seven  machine  hands  that  receive  $2.25  per  day  and  two  packers 
and  trimmers  that  receive  $2.00  per  day. 

From  information  received  from  five  companies  that  employ 
common  labor  we  find  that  the  average  day  wage  received  by 
laborers  is  $1.65  per  day. 


— 15 — 


INFORMATION  RELATIVE  TO 
PROSTITUTES. 


The  following  data  is  a report  on  thirty-three  women  who  were 
inmates  of  houses  of  prostitution. 

XI,  ag*ed  twenty-one,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in 
fifth  grade,  was  twelve  years  of  age  at  the  time,  can  read  and  write, 
single,  no  children,  first  occupation  was  chambermaid  in  hotel, 
started  work  when  seventeen,  other  occupations  chamber  maid  in 
sporting  house,  first  intercourse  when  nineteen,  working  in  rooming 
houses  at  the  time,  influencing  cause,  said  bad  associations  was  the 
cause  of  her  going  wrong,  entered  house  when  twenty,  reason  given, 
said  she  was  not  strong  and  needed  more  money,  average  earnings 
$30.00  weekly,  has  never  tried  other  work  since  she  entered  house, 
cannot  save  money,  both  parents  living.  Remarks.  Assists  parents. 

X2,  aged  twenty-six,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in  the 
sixth  grade,  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  she  left  school,  can  read 
and  write,  single,  no  children,  first  occupation  waitress  in  hotel, 
went  to  work  when  nineteen,  other  occupation  sporting,  first  inter- 
course when  nineteen,  occupation  at  that  time  did  work  in  res- 
taurant and  hotel,  influencing  cause,  said  she  was  not  earning 
enough,  was  only  getting  $4.00  weekly,  entered  house  when  twenty-, 
one,  reason  given  said  that  she  met  a girl  where  she  worked  who 
urged  her  to  enter  a house  with  her,  average  earnings  $30.00  to 
$35.00  weekly,  never  tried  to  secure  other  work  since  she  entered 
house,  can  save  money,  mother  living,  father  is  dead. 

X3,  aged  twenty-five,  parents  German,  left  school  when  in 
seventh  grade,  was  thirteen  years  of  age  at  the  time,  married,  no 
children,  first  occupation  domestic,  started  work  when  fifteen,  other 
occupations  sporting,  first  intercourse  when  nineteen,  domestic  at 
the  time,  influencing  cause,  said  she  went  out  to  dances,  skating 
rinks  and  met  bad  companions,  entered  house  when  twenty-one, 
reason  given,  said  that  as  she  was  running  around  with  men  she 
thought  she  might  enter  a house  and  get  paid  for  it,  average  earn- 
ings $10.00  weekly,  has  never  tried  to  secure  other  work  since  enter- 
ing house,  saves  no  money,  parents  dead,  mother  died  when  she  was 
twelve.  Remarks : Said  she  lived  with  her  aunt  after  mother  died. 

X4,  aged  twenty-one,  parents  German,  left  school  when  in  the 
third  grade  and  was  ten  years  old  at  the  time,  can  read  and  write, 
single,  no  children,  never  worked,  first  intercourse  when  sixteen, 
influencing  cause — said  she  liked  the  life,  entered  house  when 
eighteen,  reason  given  said  she  liked  the  life,  average  earnings 
$35.00  weekly,  has  never  tried  to  secure  other  work  since  she  entered 
house,  does  not  save  money,  parents  living.  Remarks : She  said 
that  she  has  hustled  on  the  streets  since  she  was  sixteen  years  old. 

X5,  aged  twenty-two,  parents  Irish,  left  school  when  in  the 
tenth  grade  and  was  sixteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  she  left  school, 

-16- 


can  read  and  write,  single,  no  children,  first  occupation  domestic, 
started  work  when  fifteen,  other  occupations  factory  work,  first 
intercourse  when  sixteen,  was  working  in  factory  at  the  time,  influ- 
encing cause,  said  she  went  out  to  dances  and  got  into  a bad  crowd, 
entered  house  when  eighteen,  reason  given,  said  she  could  earn 
more  money  in  a house,  average  earnings  $35.00  weekly,  has  never 
tried  to  secure  other  work  since  she  entered  house,  saves  no  money, 
parents  living. 

X6,  aged  twenty-nine,  parents  German,  left  school  in  early 
grade,  was  ten  years  old  when  she  stopped  school,  married  when 
twenty-eight,  husband  would  not  support  her  so  she  left  him  in  nine 
months,  no  children,  first  occupation  domestic,  started  to  work  when 
fourteen,  first  intercourse  when  fourteen,  domestic  at  the  time,  in- 
fluencing cause  she  said  that  she  was  influenced  by  others,  did  not 
know  better,  entered  house  when  eighteen,  reason  given  said  she 
had  a girl  friend  who  persuaded  her  to  enter,  average  earnings  $25.00 
weekly,  has  never  tried  to  secure  other  work  since  she  entered  the 
house,  can  save  some,  parents  are  living.  Remarks:  Was  married 
out  of  house  of  prostitution. 

X7  aged  twenty-four,  parents  Canadian,  left  school  when  in 
eighth  grade  and  was  seventeen  years  of  age  at  the  time,  can  read 
and  write,  married  when  seventeen,  husband  was  killed  in  railroad 
accident,  lived  together  four  years,  has  two  children  living  and  two 
were  dead,  first  occupation  was  waitress  in  restaurant  when  twenty- 
four,  first  intercourse  with  men  other  than  husband  when  twenty- 
* three,  was  living  at  home  at  the  time,  influencing  cause  said  that 
after  her  husband  was  killed  she  used  to  go  out  to  dances  and  run 
around  with  men,  entered  house  when  twenty-four,  came  to  house 
with  a girl  that  roomed  with  her,  said  she  could  not  live  on  the 
money  she  earned,  parents  living. 

X8  aged  twenty-two,  parents  Canadian,  left  school  when  in  the 
eighth  grade  and  was  sixteen  years  of  age  at  the  time,  can  read  and 
write,  single,  no  children,  first  occupation  waitress  in  restaurant, 
went  to  work  when  sixteen,  other  occupations  factory  work,  first 
intercourse  when  seventeen,  worked  in  factory  at  the  time,  influenc- 
ing cause  she  said  that  she  went  out  nights  to  dances,  cafes  and 
started  to  drink,  entered  house  when  twenty-two,  reason  given  said 
that  she  could  not  earn  enough  outside,  parents  living. 

X10  aged  twenty-eight,  German-Jewess,  never  attended  school, 
could  not  read  or  write,  married,  no  children,  first  occupation  was 
in  a restaurant  when  she  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  other  occupa- 
tions cook  and  waitress,  first  intercourse  when  seventeen,  reason 
given  said  she  could  not  find  work  and  needed  money,  entered  house 
when  twenty-four  because  she  needed  the  money,  said  she  made 
as  high  as  $50.00  weekly,  and  saved  $20.00  weekly,  parents  living. 

XI 1,  aged  twenty,  parents  were  American,  left  school  at  the 
twelfth  grade  and  w*as  fifteen  years  of  age  at  that  time,  can  read  and 
write,  is  single,  no  children,  nature  of  first  occupation  was  factory 
work,  went  to  work  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  only  other  occu- 

—17— 


pation  was  hustling,  had  first  intercourse  when  seventeen  and  at 
that  time  was  in  a factory,  nature  of  influence  causing  her  to  go 
wrong,  she  said  that  she  was  out  nights  with  young  folks  and  was 
away  from  home  altogether  too  much,  entered  a house  of  prostitu- 
tion at  eighteen  as  she  said  she  might  as  well  make  money  that  way 
as  running  around  , average  weekly  money  she  makes  is  $25.00,  has 
never  thought  of  leaving  the  life  she  is  leading,  says  she  can  save  a 
little  money,  her  parents  are  living. 

X12,  aged  twenty-six,  parents  were  American,  left  school  at 
eighth  grade  and  was  fourteen  years  of  age  at  that  time,  can  read 
and  write,  is  separated  from  husband,  was  married  when  sixteen 
and  has  lived  with  husband  off  and  on  for  four  and  one-half  years, 
has  had  two  children,  one  dead,  nature  of  first  occupation  was  nurse 
girl,  went  to  work  when  fifteen,  other  occupation  was  a domestic, 
had  first  illicit  intercourse  when  twenty  and  at  that  time  was  a 
domestic,  nature  of  influence  causing  her  to  go  wrong,  she  says  that 
she  went  to  visit  a girl  whose  cousin  had  a house  of  prostitution, 
entered  a house  of  prostitution  at  twenty,  says  she  never  ran  around 
before  entering  the  house  of  prostitution,  average  money  made  is 
$20.00  weekly,  has  never  tried  to  leave  the  life  and  saves  no  money, 
mother  is  living  and  her  father  dead. 

X13,  aged  twenty-three,  parents  were  American,  left  school  at 
eighth  grade  and  was  thirteen  years  of  age  at  that  time,  can  read 
work  when  thirteen,  only  other  occupation  hustling,  first  intercouse 
when  fourteen,  at  that  time  was  a domestic,  influencing  cause,  out 
and  write,  is  single,  no  children,  first  occupation  domestic,  went  to 
nights  and  went  to  dances  and  cafes,  entered  a house  of  prostitution 
when  twenty  for  the  reason  that  she  wanted  more  money  and  pretty 
clothes,  average  money  made  is  $20.00  weekly,  has  never  thought  of 
leaving  house  of  prostitution,  saves  no  money,  her  mother  is  living 
and  father  is  dead. 

X14,  aged  thirty-two,  American  parents,  went  to  country  school, 
lef^school  when  twelve,  can  read  and  write,  single,  no  children,  first 
occupation  was  domestic  when  thirteen,  first  intercourse  when  thir- 
teen, influencing  cause  was  out  nights  with  young  people  to  dances, 
etc.,  entered  a house  of  prostitution  when  twenty-four,  reason  given 
was  that  she  thought  she  might  as  well  go  into  a house  as  there  was 
more  money  and  fun  there,  makes  $15.00  weekly,  never  tried  to 
obtain  other  work  since  entering  house,  saves  no  money,  mother 
living  and  father  is  dead. 

X15,  aged  twenty-six,  parents  were  American,  went  to  Polish 
school,  left  school  when  thirteen,  can  read  and  write,  single,  no 
children,  first  occupation  was  factory  work,  started  to  work  when 
thirteen,  other  work  had  been  employed  as  domestic,  first  inter- 
course when  nineteen,  was  domestic  at  that  time,  influencing  cause, 
met  girls  that  got  her  to  go  wrong,  entered  house  of  prostitution 
when  twenty-three,  reason  given  was  that  she  thought  she  would 
be  better  off  in  house,  average  weekly  money  $15.00  to  $20.00,  never 
tried  to  obtain  other  work,  saves  no  money,  both  parents  living. 

—18— 


X16,  aged  twenty-three,  parents  were  American,  left  school 
when  in  sixth  grade,  was  twelve  years  of  age,  can  read  and  write, 
single,  no  children,  first  occupation  was  domestic,  started  to  work 
when  eighteen,  only  other  occupation  hustling,  first  intercourse 
when  sixteen,  not  working  at  that  time,  lived  with  her  aunt,  influ- 
encing cause  out  nights  to  shows  and  dances*  entered  house  when 
nineteen,  reason  given  she  liked  the  life,  average  money  made  $20.00 
to  $25.00  weekly,  never  tried  to  obtain  other  work,  saves  no  money, 
both  parents  dead.  Lived  with  her  aunt  until  she  was  eighteen 
years  of  age. 

X17,  aged  twenty-eight,  parents  were  American,  left  school 
when  in  fourth  grade,  does  not  remember  how  old  she  was  when  she 
left  school,  can  read  and  write,  single,  no  children,  first  occupation 
was  domestic,  age  at  that  time  eighteen,  other  occupation  sporting, 
had  first  intercourse  when  nineteen,  was  domestic  at  that  time, 
would  give  no  reason  for  her  going  wrong,  entered  a house  when 
nineteen,  reason  given  said  she  was  decoyed  into  a house  by  another 
girl,  average  money  made  $15.00  to  $20.00  weekly,  never  tried  to 
secure  other  work,  cannot  save  money,  parents  dead. 

X18,  aged  twenty-four,  parents  were  Irish,  left  school  at  eighth 
grade,  was  fifteen  years  of  age  at  that  time,  can  read  and  write, 
married,  not  living  with  husband,  was  married  when  nineteen,  lived 
with  husband  three  years,  no  children,  first  occupation  was  tele- 
phone girl,  received  eighteen  dollars  per  month,  started  work  when 
sixteen,  other  occupations  saleslady,  hustled  one  month  before  enter- 
ing house,  first  intercourse  when  twenty-two,  saleslady  at  that  time 
in  Chicago  at  $5.00  per  week,  nature  of  influencing  cause,  said  she 
could  not  live  on  wages  so  she  hustled,  entered  house  when  twenty- 
three,  reason  given  needed  more  money,  average  money  made  $20.00 
weekly,  never  tried  to  secure  othr  work,  can  save  no  money,  parents 
living. 

X19,  aged  twenty-two,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in 
the  eighth  grade,  was  thirteen  years  old  at  that  time,  can  read  and 
write,  married,  separated  from  husband,  married  when  twenty,  lived 
with  husband  one  and  one-half  years  then  left  him  because  she 
could  not  agree  with  him,  no  children,  first  occupation  restaurant, 
started  work  when  nineteen,  other  occupations  hustling  and  sport- 
ing, first  intercourse  when  sixteen,  lived  at  home  and  did  no  outside 
work,  nature  of  influencing  cause,  said  she  wanted  to  make  some 
money,  entered  house  when  eighteen,  reason  given  said  she  needed 
more  money,  average  earnings  $15.00  to  $20.00  weekly,  never  tried 
to  secure  other  work,  can  save  no  money,  parents  are  living,  was 
married  from  sporting  house. 

X20,  aged  nineteen,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in 
eighth  grade,  age  at  that  time  thirteen,  can  read  and  write,  married 
when  fifteen,  lived  with  husband  two  years  and  left  him  because  he 
was  mean  to  her,  no  children,  first  occupation  was  in  factory,  was 
thirteen  years  of  age  at  that  time,  other  occupations  dishwasher, 

—19— 


waitress  and  domestic,  had  first  intercourse  when  fifteen,  occupa- 
tion at  that  time  married,  also  did  work  as  waitress,  after  she  left 
husband  she  started  to  go  out  with  other  men  as  she  could  not  earn 
enough  to  support  herself,  entered  a house  when  twenty-one,  reason 
given  was  that  she  thought  she  could  earn  more  money  and  that  she 
would  not  be  exposed,  to  the  weather,  average  earned  $25.00  weekly, 
never  tried  to  secure  other  work,  saves  no  money,  parents  dead, 
mother  died  when  she  was  seventeen. 

X21,  aged  twenty-three,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in 
eighth  grade,  was  sixteen  at  that  time,  can  read  and  write,  single, 
no  children,  first  occupation  waitress,  sixteen  years  at  that  time, 
other  occupations  hustled  on  streets  and  cafes  two  years,  first  inter- 
course when  sixteen,  was  waitress  at  that  time,  nature  of  influencing 
cause  said  she  did  not  earn  enough,  entered  house  when  seventeen, 
reason  given  said  she  thought  she  could  make  more  money,  average 
earnings  $20.00  weekly,  never  tried  to  secure  other  work,  saves  no 
money,  parents  living. 

X22,  aged  twenty-six,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in 
eighth  grade,  was  fourteen  years  of  age  at  that  time,  can  read  and 
write,  married  when  twenty-one,  lived  with  husband  one  year  and 
then  husband  left  her,  no  children,  first  occupation  was  waitress  in 
hotel,  age  at  that  time  twenty  years,  other  occupations  sporting, 
first  intercourse  when  sixteen,  lived  at  home  at  the  time,  nature  of 
influencing  cause  said  she  was  out  nights  to  dances,  entered  house 
when  twenty-two,  worked  two  weeks  after  husband  left  her  and 
then  entered  house,  average  earnings  $25.00  weekly,  never  tried  to 
secure  other  work  after  entering  house,  savs  no  money,  parents 
living.  Remarks:  Was  sick,  man  took  care  of  her.  A seventeen 
year  old  girl  who  had  been  in  house  told  her  she  could  earn  more 
money  in  house  so  they  entered. 

X23,  aged  twenty-six,  parents  German,  left  school  when  thir- 
teen, can  read  and  write,  is  single,  no  children,  first  occupation  was 
in  bake  shop,  started  to  work  when  twelve,  other  work  in  restaurant 
and  kitchen,  had  first  intercourse  when  twenty-one,  at  that  time  she 
worked  in  restaurant,  influencing  cause  said  she  was  out  nights  to 
dances,  entered  house  when  twenty-one,  reason  given  was  that  she 
wanted  to  have  the  money  as  long  as  she  was  running  around  with 
men,  average  earnings  $20.00  weekly,  has  never  tried  to  secure  other 
work  since  she  entered  house,  saves  no  money,  mother  living,  father 
is  dead.  Remarks : When  fifteen  years  of  age  she  came  from  old 
country  to  stay  with  her  aunt. 

X24,  aged  twenty-two,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in 
eighth  grade,  was  twelve  years  of  age  at  the  time,  married  when 
eighteen,  lived  with  husband  six  months  and  left  him  because  he 
would  not  support  her,  no  children,  first  occupation  was  domestic, 
age  at  that  time  was  fifteen ; other  occupations,  worked  in  factory, 
hotel  and  in  restaurant ; first  intercourse  when  eighteen  and  at  that 
time  she  worked  in  a restaurant,  influencing  cause  said  she  could 

—20— 


not  earn  enough,  entered  house  when  twenty-one,  reason  given  she 
wanted  more  money,  average  earnings  $27.00  weekly,  never  tried  to 
secure  other  work  after  she  entered  house,  can  save  money,  mother 
living,  father  is  dead.  Remarks : Had  an  aunt  who  ran  house, 
knew  she  could  earn  more  money  there.  Assists  her  mother. 

X25,  aged  twenty-six,  parents  English,  never  attended  school, 
can  read  and  write,  married  when  thirteen  years  of  age,  lived  with 
husband  four  years  when  he  died,  no  children,  first  occupation  do- 
mestic, went  to  work  when  eleven  years  of  age,  other  occupation 
nursing,  first  illicit  intercourse  when  twenty-four,  occupation  at  that 
time  nursing,  influencing  cause  said  she  was  irregularly  employed 
and  became  tired  of  working  for  low  wages,  entered  house  when 
twenty-four,  reason  given  said  she  wanted  more  money,  average 
earnings  $40.00  weekly,  has  never  tried  to  obtain  other  work  since 
she  entered  house,  saves  money,  parents  dead.  Remarks:  Says  she 
supports  sister. 

X26,  aged  twenty-nine,  parents  American,  left  school  when  she 
was  in  eleventh  grade,  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  she  left 
school,  can  read  and  write,  was  married  when  twenty  years  of  age, 
lived  with  husband  six  years  and  then  obtained  divorce,  says  she 
hustled  all  the  time  she  lived  with  husband,  no  children,  first  occu- 
pation domestic  during  vacation,  fifteen  years  of  age  when  she 
started  to  work  during  vacations,  other  occupation  in  factory,  first 
intercourse  at  seventeen,  nature  of  occupation  at  that  time  factory 
work,  influencing  cause  said  she  never  did  work  very  much,  entered 
house  when  twenty-one  because  she  liked  the  life,  average  earn- 
ings $30.00  weekly,  has  never  tried  to  secure  other  work  since  she 
entered  the  house,  can  save  no  money,  parents  are  living.  Remarks : 
Said  husband  knew  she  was  hustling,  he  was  a bartender. 

X27,  aged  thirty-seven,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in 
twelfth  grade,  aged  eighteen,  can  read  and  write,  married  three 
times,  first  time  married  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  said  she  never 
worked  only  did  sporting,  tried  to  work  in  a store  once  but  could 
not  earn  enough,  has  a flat  of  her  own  with  sporting  girls,  said  she 
liked  the  life  and  wanted  the  money,  average  earnings  $40.00  weekly, 
has  never  tried  to  leave  the  life,  saves  no  money,  her  parents  are 
livihg. 

X28,  aged  twenty-seven,  parents  Irish,  left  school  when  in  sixth 
grade,  aged  fourteen,  can  read  and  write,  married  when  sixteen, 
lived  with  husband  for  two  years  and  left  him  because  he  would  not. 
support  her,  has  one  child,  first  occupation  was  domestic  for  her 
aunt,  was  eleven  when  she  started  to  work,  other  occupations  laun- 
dry work  and  chamber-maid,  first  intercourse  when  nineteen  when 
she  was  chamber-maid,  influencing  cause  said  she  was  out  to  dances 
with  the  wrong  crowd  of  boys,  entered  house  when  she  was  twenty- 
one,  reason  given  was  that  a sporting  girl  told  her  she  could  earn 
more  money  in  a house,  average  earnings  $15.00  weekly,  has  never 
tried  to  obtain  other  work  after  she  entered  house,  saves  no  money, 
parents  are  living.  Remarks : Supports  a baby. 

—21— 


X29,  aged  twenty-eight,  parents  Swedish,  left  school  when  in 
the  seventh  grade,  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  she  left  school, 
can  read  and  write,  married  when  eighteen,  lived  with  husband  for 
eight  years  and  then  they  separated  because  they  could  not  agree, 
has  one  child,  first  occupation  was  domestic,  went  to  work  when 
fourteen,  other  occupations  was  saleslady  and  made  $5.00  per  week, 
first  intercourse  when  sixteen,  domestic  at  the  time,  influencing 
cause  said  she  went  to  public  dances,  entered  house  when  eighteen, 
reason  given  said  she  wanted  to  earn  more  money  and  pretty 
clothes,  average  earnings  $15.00  weekly,  has  never  tried  to  secure 
other  work  since  she  entered  house,  saves  no  money,  mother  living, 
father  dead.  Remarks:  Married  from  house. 

X30,  aged  twenty-one,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in 
eighth  grade,  was  fifteen  years  of  age  at  that  time,  can  read  and 
write,  married  when  fifteen  years  of  age  to  a man  much  older  than 
she  was  who  got  her  into  trouble  and  then  married  her,  left  him 
after  living  with  him  for  three  years,  has  one  child,  first  occupation 
telephone  girl,  received  $20.00  per  month,  age  when  she  went  to 
work  fifteen,  first  intercourse  when  fourteen,  was  attending  school 
at  the  time,  influencing  cause  said  she  was  out  to  dances  and  that 
the  boys  would  take  her  to  back  of  saloons,  entered  house,  when 
nineteen,  reason  given  said  that  a number  of  girls  became  tired  of 
working  for  low  wages  and  decided  to  enter  the  house,  average 
earnings  $15.00  weekly,  has  never  tried  to  obtain  other  wrork  since 
she  entered  house,  saves  no  money,  parents  are  living. 

X31,  aged  twenty-four,  parents  Russian-Polish,  left  school  when 
she  was  twelve,  can  read  and  write,  married  when  fifteen,  lived  with 
husband  six  years  when  he  deserted  her  with  another  woman,  has 
three  children,  first  occupation  was  as  cash-girt  and  was  thirteen 
years  of  age  at  the  time  she  started  to  work,  other  occupation 
cashier,  first  promiscuous  intercourse  was  after  her  husband  left  her 
and  she  could  not  make  enough  to  support  her  children,  she  entered 
a house  at  twenty-one  to  earn  more  money,  average  earnings ’$20.00 
weekly,  has  never  tried  to  secure  another  place  to  work  since  she 
entered  the  house,  saves  no  money,  parents  are  living.  Remarks  : 
She  said  she  would  not  be  there  if  it  were  not  for  her  children. 

X32,  aged  twenty-nine,  parents  American,  left  school  when  in 
the  twelfth  grade,  was  eighteen  years  old  at  the  time  she  left  school, 
can  read  and  write,  married  when  twenty-two,  lived  with  her  hus- 
band two  years,  no  children,  never  worked,  first  promiscuous  inter- 
course when  twenty-six  when  she  entered  a house  of  prostitution, 
reason  given  she  liked  the  life,  average  earnings  $20.00  weekly,  never 
trid  to  secure  other  work  after  entering  house,  saves  no  money, 
parents  living. 

X33,  aged  twenty-seven,  parents  Canadian,  left  school  when  in 
eighth  grade,  was  fifteen  years  of  age  at  the  time,  single,  no  children, 
first  occupation  was  domestic,  started  to  work  when  sixteen,  .other 
occupations  canvassing  and  saleslady,  first  intercourse  when 
eighteen  at  which  time  she  was  a domestic,  influencing  cause,  said 

—22— 


she  was  not  earning  enough,  entered  a house  when  nineteen,  reason 
given  was  that  she  wanted  more  money,  average  earnings  $20.00, 
parents  living.  Remarks : Does  not  drink,  tried  to  secure  work 
outside  of  house  but  says  that  she  could  not  earn  enough  so  she 
went  back  into  the  sporting  life. 

A synopsis  of  the  foregoing  cases  reported  upon  shows  that  the 
average  at  which  the  girl^  left  school  was  13^  years. 

Average  age  at  which  girls  first  started  to  work  15  years. 

Average  age  at  which  first  intercourse  was  had  18  years. 

Average  age  of  women  entering  houses  of  prostitution  23  years. 

Nature  of  First  Occupations. 

Domestics  15,  Hotel  and  Restaurant  8,  Factory  Work  4,  Tele- 
phone Girls  2,  Nurse  Girl  1,  Cash  Girl  1,  Number  not  employed  2. 

Nature  of  Occupation  at  Time  of  Entering  House. 

Sporting  and  Hustling  9,  Hotel  and  Restaurants  7,  Domestics 
6,  Salesladies  3,  Factory  4,  Nursing  1,  Cashier  1,  Not  employed  2. 


ROOMING  HOUSES,  Etc. 

These  places  were  investigated  upon  information  placed  before 
the  commission  by  citizens,  and  also  upon  information  obtained 
from  women  by  the  investigator  while  seeking  data  necessary  for 
this  report.  This  is  not  a complete  survey,  but  is  of  typical  cases 
showing  conditions  which  the  commission  found  exist  to  a certain 
extent  throughout  the  city. 

(135)  I find  that  one  — aged  twenty-five  years,  living  at 

street,  on  the  third  floor  is  being  kept  in  funds  by . This  girl 

works  at  the  . He  bought  this  girl  household  goods.  The 

party  visited  her  every  Sunday  and  stayed  all  day.  He  was  married 
a few  weeks  ago  and  still  he  calls  and  stays  with  her  and  keeps  her 
in  funds. 

(136) .  I find  that  the  rooming  house  known  as  the at 

street,  has  two  street  walkers  that  have  rooms  in  there.  Rooms 
can  be  hired  by  any  one,  no  questions  asked.  On  Wednesday  and 
Friday  evenings  I saw  three  couples  enter  this  place.  The  usual 
length  of  time  they  spent  therein  was  from  twenty  minutes  to  half 
an  hour. 

(137) .  Rooming  house  over  saloon,  corner  of  and 

street,  this  place  is  conducted  by  an  old  man.  Have  seen  no 

women  that  have  rooms  there  and  walk  the  street.  The  rooms  are 
rented  to  transients.  Have  seen  two  couples  enter  this  place  and 
come  out  after  a period  of  twenty  minutes.  These  girls  were  not 
street  walkers. 


—23— 


(138) .  I find  that  one,  , living  at  avenue,  runs  a 

sporting  house  at  the  above  number.  In  order  to  get  into  this  place 
it  is  necessary  for  one  to  call  up  on  the  phone  and  make  arrange- 
ments for  a time  when  to  call.  She  charges  one  dollar.  You  can 
get  bottled  beer  for  twenty-five  cents  a bottle.  I called  at  this  place 
on  Tuesday  evening  and  had  two  bottles  of  beer,  she  wanted  me  to 
go  to  bed  with  her. 

(139) .  I find  that  the , street,  is  a place  where  street 

walkers  take  men.  The  couples  are  shown  to  rooms,  no  questions 
asked.  I saw  one  couple  enter  this  place  on  Monday  evening  and 
on  Saturday  I noticed  five  couples  enter,  average  stay  was  about 
twenty  minutes. 

(140) .  I find  that  the  party  running  the  rooming  house  at 

street,  solicited  a girl  that  was  formerly  at  street,  to  take  a 

room  at  her  place.  . This  girl  is  married.  I have  been  unable  to  get 
her  name.  The  rooming  house  woman  told  this  girl  that  if  sne 
would  stay  at  her  place  she  would  get  her  plenty  of  men. 

(141) .  The  rooming  house  known  as  , street  is  a 

place  where  street  walkers  take  men.  I watched  this  place  and  saw 
dour  couples  enter  on  Friday,  and  Saturday  I saw  seven  couples 
enter.  Several  girls  have  rooms  in  this  place.  None  of  the  couples 
had  baggage  and  the  average  length  of  stay  was  about  fifteen 
minutes. 

(142) .  I find  that has  moved  from avenue  and  now 

lives  at street.  I called  at  this  place  and  she  asked  me  if  I 

wanted  to  go  to  bed  with  her.  She  has  a little  girl  about  four  years 
of  age  that  was  in  the  house  at  the  time  I called.  On  Wednesday, 
in  the  afternoon,  from  three  to  four-thirty,  I watched  the  house  and 
saw  five  delivery  wagons  stop  at  the  place.  Average  length  of 
stay  was  about  fifteen  minutes.  No  liquors  in  the  house.  I also 
made1  a date  with  her  over  the  phone,  she  said  she  was  ready  for 
.anything. 

' (143).  I find  that  a and  a are  receiving  men  for 

immoral  purposes  at  their  home  avenue.  I noticed  four  men 

enter  the  place  on  Friday  evening.  I was  not  allowed  entrance,  but 
in  questioning  one  of  the  men  that  had  called  there  he  told  me  of 
the  character  of  the.  place.  The  man  in  the  restaurant  next  door 
tells  me  that  these  women  receive  men  callers  every  day. 

(144) .  I find  that  one , avenue,  second  floor,  has  two 

women  with  him  at  the  above  number.  He  also  has  an  opium  lay- 
out at  the  above  place.  As  far  as  I have  been  able  to  find  out  the 
girls  are  not  addicted  to  the  habit, himself  is  a slave  to  the  drug. 

(145) .  Rooming  house avenue,  I find  that  on  the  second 

floor  of  this  place  there  are  two  sporting  women  and  on  the  third 
floor  there  are  three.  These  women  receive  men  callers  in  their 
rooms. 

(146) .  On  Thursday  evening  I followed  two  couples  to  

.avenue.  They  secured  rooms  in  company  with  two  men.  The  girls 

—24— 


do  not  live  at  this  place,  one  of  them  has  a room  at  the  as  I 

have  seen  her  before.  I secured,  the  name  of  this  girl, . They 

picked  the  men  up  on  Monroe  avenue  at  the  corner. 

(147) .  From  an  investigation  of  the  place  known  as , 

street,  I find  that  this  place  is  a boarding  house,  that  there  are  four 
women  and  three  men  rooming  here.  I watched  this  place  Wed- 
nesday from  eight  to  nine  thirty  o’clock  p.  m.  and  saw  one  couple 
enter  the  house.  On  Saturday  I watched  from  two  o’clock  to  four 
and  saw  three  couples  enter,  of  the  three  couples  that  entered  two 
couples  came  out  in  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  minutes.  I called 
at  the  place  Saturday  evening  and  applied  for  a room  but  was  told 
that  all  rooms  were  taken,  I did  not  see  any  women  in  the  place. 

(148) .  I find  that  the  woman  that  has  this  phone, is  the 

wife  of , avenue.  He  is  a man  of  good  reputation.  His 

wife  receives  men  that  make  appointments  over  the  phone.  I made 
an  appointment  and  called  on  her  Friday  afternoon.  She  told  me 
that  her  charge  was  $1.00  and  was  determined  to  have  me  stay.  I 
asked  her  if  we  could  have  any  drinks,  but  found  that  she  does  not 
have  any  liquor  in  the  house,  although  she  was  willing  to  have 
some  sent  up  from  the  corner  saloon. 

(149) .  House  numbered  avenue.  One  runs  this 

place  as  a rooming  house.  I find  that  there  are  two  girls  in  this 
place,  and  that  they  receive  men  callers,  I called  and  was  told  that 
the  price  was  $1.00  and  that  I could  have  a room  and  a girl  all 

night  for  $5.00.  I bought  two  bottles  of  beer  from . I find  that 

on  Saturday  afternoon  a wagon  stopped  and  delivered  four  cases 

of  beer.  One  of  the  girls  that  goes  to  this  place  lives  at avenue, 

three  doors  from  . She  goes  over  every  night.  I have  been 

unable  to  get  her  name.  She  is  about  twenty-four  years  old  and  is 
very  well  dressed.  I find  that  this  house  is  next  door  to  a church. 

(150) .  , I find  that  one, lived  here,  that  she  has  moved 

to , she  rented  the  first  floor  at , and  received  men  callers, 

she  had  several  girls  in  with  her.  I called  her  over  the  phone  and 
was  told  that  she  would  be  ready  some  time  this  week,  she  said 
that  she  had  four  girls  and  would  be  glad  to  have  me  call.  Will 
report  on  this  place  later. 

Thursday  evening  at  10  :20  o’clock  I saw  a couple  at  the  corner 
of  Crescent  street  and  Monroe  avenue.  They  were  met  by  three 
men.  I overheard  the  conversation.  The  couple  were  married  and 
the  husband  was  insisting  that  the  woman  go  with  one  of  the  men 
to  a room.  They  became  very  noisy  and  the  man  began  to  drag 
her  along  when  an  officer  came  around  the  corner,  watched  them  a 
few  minutes  and  walked  over  and  told  them  to  move  on. 

(151) .  Rooming  house,  old  number avenue,  I find  that 

rooms  are  let  out  to  any  one,  no  questions  asked,  they  charge  $1.00 
for  a room,  no  liquor.  Saw  young  girl  and  man  about  fifty  enter 
and  leave  in  one-half  hour.  Couples  going  in  and  out  every  evening. 

(152) .  Wednesday,  in  the  evening  I was  stopped  by  a girl  and 

—25— 


she  asked  me  to  go  with  her  to  her  room.  This  girl  goes  by  the 

name  of  her  correct  name  is  , she  is  nineteen  years  of 

age.  Has  walked  the  streets  for  the  last  year.  She  lived  with  her 
parents  in  this  city  until  she  was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  she 
started  housework.  She  took  her  first  wrong  step  when  fifteen 
3^ears  of  age.  She  says  her  parents  think  she  still  does  housework, 
she  says  that  she  makes  from  $20.00  to  $25.00  per  week  by  picking 
up  men  and  taking  them  to  her  room.  She  charges  from  fifty  ceats 
to  one  dollar.  She  says  that  she  cannot  make  enough  money  to 
live  respectable  so  she  makes  it  the  way  she  does. 

(153) .  I find  that  one, , living  at avenue,  is  conduct- 

ing a sporting  house  at  the  above  number.  Only  those  she  is 
acquainted  with  can  be  admitted,  or  one  being  vouched  for  by  a 
friend.  It  is  necessary  to  call  her  up  on  the  phone  and  make  an 
appointment.  There  are  two  other  women  in  this  place.  I called 
there  once  and  was  refused  admittance,  then  I made  an  appointment 
over  the  phone  for  Saturday  evening  at  6 :30.  I called  and  was 
admitted.  There  are  no  drinks  served.  She  charges  one  dollar. 
She  told  me  that  she  must  be  very  careful  as  the  public  is  very  much 
stirred  up  just  at  present  and  that  they  are  waiting  for  things  to 
become  quiet. 

(154) .  I find  that  one, is  living  with  a young  lady  by  the 

name  of who  works  at  the  — — . I have  followed  this  couple 

several  times,  one  evening  they  went  to  the and  the  other  time 

to  - — — . I have  been  unable  to  find  where  he  keeps  the  girl,  but  I 
understand  that  he  has  fitted  up  a flat  for  her.  He  supplies  her  with 
clothes  and  money. 

(155) .  I find  that  one  , , picks  up  men  on  the  street 

and  takes  them  to  hotels,  I have  seen  her  enter  the three  times, 

once  this  week,  each  time  with  a different  man.  Registering  as  man 
and  wife. 

(156) .  I find  that  the  rooming  house  conducted  by , 

street,  is  a place  where  street  walkers  take  men.  I have  been  un- 
able to  find,  out  if  these  girls  room  there.  Saturday  evening  I 
noticed  two  girls  pick  up  two  men  on  Monroe  avenue  and  take  them 
to  this  rooming  house.  They  were  given  rooms.  Within  ten 
minutes  after  these  parties  went  up  to  the  rooms  the  men  came 
down  and  entered  the  saloon  underneath  and  returned  to  the  rooms 
over  the  saloon. 

(157) .  I find  that  two  street  walkers  have  rooms  at ave- 
nue. This  is  a rooming  house  conducted  by . I have  been  to 

the  room  of  one  girl  but  have  been  unable  to  get  her  to  talk.  She 
says  that  if  I or  any  other  person  can  show  her  how  to  make  as 
much  money  as  she  now  does  she  will  quit  the  business.  She  says 
that  I can  call  her  Flora  and  to  let  it  go  at  that.  She  charges  $1.00 
and  then  gets  the  man  to  put  up  from  fifty  cents  to  one  dollar  for 
the  room  although  she  rents  the  room  by  theweek  . 

(158) .  Last  Wednesday  evening  I followed  a couple  to  the 

— 26 — • 


, corner  of  and  avenue.  They  came  out  in  twenty 

minutes  and  then  separated.  The  girl  went  east  to  Monroe  and 
Michigan.  I entered  into  a conversation  with  her  and  she  invited 

me  to  her  room  at  the . She  said  her  name  was . She  is 

about  twenty-two  years  of  age  and  she  says  that  she  only  does  this 
on  the  side.  She  says  that  her  home  is  in  Howard  City  and  that 
she  comes  to  Grand  Rapids  once  in  a while  for  a good  time.  She 
wanted  $2.00  and  told  me  I could  stay  all  night  for  $5.00.  I asked 
her  if  we  could  get  any  drinks  and  she  said  that  there  was  none  in 
the  house  but  wanted  me  to  go  across  the  street  and  get  her  a 
couple  of  bottles  of  export.  I went  back  to  this  room  last  Saturday 
but  the  girl  had  gone. 

(159) .  I find  that  the  rooming  house  conducted  by , 

avenue,  is  used  by  couples.  I have  followed  three  couples  into  this 
place.  Average  length  of  stay  was  from  twenty  to  thirty  minutes. 
One  couple  that  went  into  this  place  and  secured  a room  were  both 
under  age.  I followed  this  couple  and  from  the  rooming  house  they 
Avent  to  a dance  hall  at . 

(160) .  From  an  investigation  of  rooming  house  at avenue, 

I find  that  this  place  has  three  entrances  on . This  week  I have 

seen  twenty-seven  couples  going  up  to  rooms  in  this  place.  I find 
that  some  of  the  women  have  rooms  here  where  they  bring  men  and 
others,  rent  a room  each  fime  they  bring  a man  with  them.  They 
do  not  register  each  time,  on  Friday  evening  out  of  three  couples 
I followed  up  only  one  registered.  None  of  the  couples  had  baggage 
and  the  average  length  of  stay  in  the  rooming  house  was  about 
fifteen  minutes. 

(161) .  On  Thursday  evening  I noticed  a street  walker  take  a 

man  into  the , avenue.  I found  that  the  girl  goes  by  the 

name  of , that  she  has  a room  at  this  place  where  she  brings 

the  men  she  picks  up  on  the  street.  I had  a talk  with  this  girl  and 
she  tells  me  that  she  is  nineteen  years  of  age,  that  she  had  been 
married,  was  not  living  with  her  husband,  that  she  was  a former 
inmate  of  a house  on  Bond  avenue,  that  she  has  been  in  various 
hotels  and  rooming  houses  since  last  winter,  that  she  averages 
$28.00  to  $32.00  a week,  that  she  was  a waitress  when  she  took  her 
first  wrong  step,  that  she  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  that  the  man 
that  wronged  her  married  her  but  deserted  her  after  eight  months, 

she  has  no  idea  where  he  now  lives.  His  name . She  tells  me 

that  it  is  here  intention  to  leave  the  city  for  Detroit  as  this  is 
regarded  as  a closed  town. 

(162) .  On  Saturday  I visited  a dance  at , I found  young 

girls  at  this  place  without  escorts,  girls  from  sixteen  years  and  up. 
Several  of  the  couples  on  the  floor  were  dancing  suggestive  dances 
and  were  not  stopped,  no  drinking  of  liquors. 

(163) .  Saturday  evening  at  about  eleven  o’clock  while  investi- 
gating the I saw  a girl  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  her  dress 

came  to  her  ankles,  go  up  to  a man  that  stood  in  the entrance 

—27— 


and  after  a conversation  they  entered  the  hotel  and  went  up  to  a 
room.  They  did  not  register.  I have  found  that  this  hotel  has 
rented  rooms  to  prostitutes,  that  some  of  these  women  are  living 
with  and  supporting  the  class  of  men  known  as  “pimps,”  that  from 
nine  o’clock  until  eleven,  three  of  these  men  stood  in  the  entrance 
of  the  hotel.  That  the  man  this  young  girl  talked  to  and  went  into 

the  hotel  with  is  now  living  with  a prostitute  in  the  hotel. 

That  these  women  have  men  come  to  their  rooms,  and  that  some 
of  the  women  go  out  on  the  street  and  come  back  with  men.  That 
the  average  length  of  stay  of  these  men  is  ten  to  fifteen  minutes. 
That  the  couples  go  right  past  the  hotel  clerk,  that  all  couples  do 
not  register. 


-28- 


REPORTS  OF  COMMITTEES. 

The  following  reports  were  made  by  the  several  committees 
and  after  careful  consideration  by  the  entire  commission  were 
adopted.  They  are  herewith  submitted  as  the  findings  and  recom- 
mendations of  the  commisssion. 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  LABOR  CONDITIONS. 

* 

Wage  For  Female  Employee 

This  is  an  estimate  of  the  committee,  based  upon  investigation, 
as  to  what  wage  constitutes  the  least  a girl  should  receive  to  prop- 
erly support  herself. 

Per  Month 


Board  and  room $20.00 

Clothing 6.00 

Carfare  and  other  incidentals 1.50 

Amusements  1.00 

Expenses  for  doctor  and  dentist 1.00 

Laundry  2.00 


Total  $31.50 


This  makes  no  provision  for  enforced  idleness  or  a vacation  nor 
for  any  extended  illness.  It  will  be  seen  from  the  investigations 
made  that  a large  number  of  female  employes  receive  less  than  this 
amount,  and  though  some  are  living  at  home  where  there  board  and 
room  may  not  be  as  high,  or  where  they  are  only  working  to  raise 
the  family  income,  there  are  a sufficient  number  of  those  dependent 
upon  their  own  efforts  to  make  a readjustment  of  conditions  essen- 
tial. 


Wage  For  a Family  of  Five. 

After  investigation  the  committee  believes  that  an  income  suffi- 
cient to  provide  for  a family  of  five  should  be  not  less  than  the 
following. 

Per  Month 


Rent  $12.00 

Foodstuff  25.00 

Clothing 12.50 

Fuel  and  light,  average 5.00 

Insurance,  life  and  fire 2.00 

Reading  and  amusements 3.00 

Carfare  and  other  incidentals 3.00 

Provision  for  sickness 2.00 


Total 


—29— 


$64.50 


This  does  not  provide  for  enforced  idleness  which  may  occur 
through  illness  or  lack  of  employment  and  for  which  we  believe 
some  provision  should  be  made. 

It  is  astonishing  how  many  families  are  striving  to  maintain 
themselves  on  much  less  than  this,  but  after  investigation  the  reali- 
zation is  forced  upon  us  that  many  are  ill-fed  and  ill-clothed  and 
deprived  of  nearly  every  comfort  of  life. 

Of  course,  in  some  homes  the  expense  is  much  greater  than  in 
others,  caused  by  wastefulness  and  ignorance,  but  if  the  children 
can  be  kept  at  home  and  in  school  much  can  be  accomplished  by 
proper  education  to  prevent  this  wastefulness  in  future  generations. 

Wages  and  the  Social*  Evil. 

That  low  wages  paid  female  workers  are  to  some  extent  re- 
sponsible for  the  downfall  of  those  who  have  gone  wrong  is  un- 
questioned, as  is  borne  out  by  the  data  gathered.  In  that  portion 
of  the  information  gathered  relative  to  the  “kept  woman,”  occa- 
sional transgressors  and  prostitutes,  eight  girls  out  of  forty-seven 
give  low  wages  as  the  direct  cause,  and  in  that  portion  relative  solely 
to  inmates  of  houses  of  prostitution,  numbering  thirty-three,  nine 
give  this  as  the  direct  cause  and  two  as  the  main  contributory 
cause,  or  nearly  twenty-five  per  cent  when  combined.  But,  whether 
the  percentage  be  somewhat  higher  or  lower,  it  is  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  merit  the  consideration  of  remedial  action. 

Taking  the  average  wage  of  females  employes  at  $6.00,  which 
is  a fair  deduction,  it  shows  that  , all  too  many  girls  are  earning 
insufficient  to  properly  support  themselves,  and  it  is  a source  of 
congratulation  and  speaks  well  for  the  strength  of  character  of  the 
large  number  of  working  girls  who  are  eking  out  an  existence  on  a 
wage  which  is  much  too  inadequate,  that  the  percentage  of  those 
who  fall  is  not  higher. 

There,  are,  however,  deeper  underlying  causes  for  the  social 
evil  than  the  wages  of  the  girl  herself,  and  one  of  these  is  the  inade- 
quate family  income,  which  we  believe  has  a considerable  bearing. 

The  homes  where  the  father  receives  insufficient  income  to 
properly  support  and  educate  his  family  are  numerous. 

There  the  children  are  often  compelled  to  assist  in  maintaining 
the  home  and  at  a tender  age  are  sent  into  the  store  or  factory  at  a 
time  when  their  character  is  still  in  formation,  and  where  they  are 
away  from  the  watchful  eye  of  the  parent.  It  is  not  implied  that 
the  places  of  employment  in  themselves  are  immoral,  but  it  may 
bring  the  opportunity  for  forming  associations,  which  bring  them 
into  contact  with  persons  of  loose  morals.  The  family  income  is 
not  sufficient  to  supply  proper  amusement  in  the  home,  and  they 
soon  learn  of  the  attractions  which  can  be  found  outside.  The 
parents  through  indifference,  a feeling  of  irresponsibility,  or  lack 
of  control  often  allow  the  children  too  great  liberty,  and  soon  all 
control  is  lost  and  they  wander  the  streets  at  will.  It  can  readily 
be  seen  what  effect  this  has  upon  the  character  of  the  child,  which 

—30— 


at  this  time  is  very  susceptible  to  wrong  influences,  unless  the  home 
influences  for  good  are  very  strong. 

The  girl  from  the  farm  or  small  city  who  is  compelled  through 
financial  stress  of  the  family  to  earn  a livelihood  is  confronted  by  a 
difficult  problem.  Being  inexperienced,  she  is  compelled  to  start 
c)t  a low  wage,  forcing  her  to  exercise  the  strictest  economy  in  food 
and  clothing,  tends  to  lead  her  into  the  cheap  rooming  house  with 
the  consequent  intermingling  of  sexes,  and  too  often  bringing  her 
into  contact  with  persons  of  immoral  character.  Craving  compan- 
ionship and  amusement  and  in  her  innocence  entirely  unprepared 
to  analyze  the  motive  of  those  ever  ready  to  take  advantage  of  her, 
she  succumbs  to  their  wiles  before  realization  of  the  consequences 
comes  to  her,  and  from  then  on  it  is  only  a step  to  the  “easiest  way.” 

By  the  time  she  is  in  a position  to  earn  a sufficient  wage  to 
support  herself,  in  comfort,  she  has  reached  the  stage  where  she 
doesn’t  care.  This  applies  with  equal  force  to  the  girl  in  the  city 
who  may  now  receive  an  adequate  wage,  but  who  at  the  time  she 
was  sent. out  to  assist  in  the  support  of  the  family  was  too  young  to 
properly  appreciate  the  dangers  of  the  pitfalls  placed  for  her.  And 
this  reaches  even  to  the  girl  who  lives  at  home,  for  the  daily  con- 
tact with  one  who  has  no  home  and  who  is  not  receiving  sufficient 
to  support  herself  and  has  chosen  the  “easiest  way”  may  be  disas- 
trous to  one  whose  character  may  not  be  of  the  strongest  through 
lack  of  opportunity  for  proper  training. 

It  is  a sad  commentary  upon  the  responsibility  which  rests 
upon  the  parent  for  the  proper  upbringing  of  their  children,  when 
we  see  the  large  number  of  young  men  and  women  who  spend  their 
evenings  away  from  home,  either  upon  the  streets,  at  dances  or 
other  places  of  amusement  at  a time  when  they  should  be  under  the 
watchful  eye  of  the  father  or  mother.  This  can  be  seen  from  the 
number  of  women  who  gave  as  the  reason  of  their  downfall  bad 
associations  and  attendance  at  dances  and  other  places  of  amuse- 
ment. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  data  relative  to  those  who  had  been 
inmates  of  houses  of  prostitution  that  the  average  age  at  which  they 
left  school  wras  thirteen  and  one-half  years.  It  can  fairly  be  as- 
sumed that  the  larger  number  of  these  entered  upon  some  employ- 
ment, as  can  be  gathered  from  the  report,  only  two  stating  they 
had  never  worked.  Is  there  anyone  who  believes  that  if  these  chil- 
dren could  have  received  a proper  education  and  had  been  able  to 
remain  under  the  influences  of  a home  where  the  father  was  able 
to  support  the  family  in  comfort  the  result  would  not  have  been 
different? 

The  ceaseless  struggle  for  existence,  the  hopelessness  and  des- 
pair of  poverty  has  its  influence  on  the  character  of  the  children. 
Eminent  authorities  hold  that  home  environment  has  a pre-natal 
influence  upon  the  character  of  the  children,  and  that  children  of 
parents  who  are  constantly  harassed  by  the  fear  of  want  and  who 

—31— 


have  lost  that  interest  in  life  which  goes  with  peace  and  content- 
ment are  liable  to  be  brought  into  the  world  handicapped  by  weak 
minds  and  lack  of  power  to  resist  evil  influences. 

The  large  number  of  prostitutes  who  give  their  occupation  as 
domestics,  we  believe  is  brought  about  by  the  fact  that  the  larger 
number  come  from  the  poorer  homes.  In  many  instances  they  lack 
home  surroundings  in  their  employment,  are  looked  down  upon  by 
their  employers  and  shunned  by  those  who  are  working  at  other 
occupations.  They  desire  amusement  and  companionship  and  this 
tends  to  bring  them  into  contact  with  improper  associates  at  dances 
and  other  places  where  they  go  to  satisfy  this  craving. 

, One  of  the  evils  attendant  upon  the  employment  of  girls 
(which,  while  it  may  have  no  direct  bearing  upon  the  moral  ques- 
tion, is  worthy  of  consideration)  is  the  effect  upon  their  physical 
condition  of  constant  employment  in  store  or  factory.  The  demands 
of  present  industrial  conditions  upon  their  nervous  systems  and  the 
strain  of  modern  life  unfits  them  for  the  duties  of  the  home  and 
motherhood. 

One  of  the  causes  leading  to  immorality  is  that  the  age  at 
which  marriage  is  contracted  is  gradually  raising  and  which  can 
to  a certain  extent  be  laid  at  the  door  of  the  low  wage.  Young 
men  hesitate  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of  married  life  upon  a 
wage  which  is  little  more  than  sufficient  to  comfortably  take  care  of 
themselves.  This  leads  them  into  seeking  other  ways  of  gratifying 
their  desires  and  all  too  often  ends  in  the  ruination  of  some  girl. 

Moral  perversity,  which  has  existed  since  the  beginning  of  the 
world  and  will  probably  exist  to  the  end  of  time,  is,  of  course,  one 
of  the  causes  for  the  social  evil  which  cannot  be  denied,  but  even 
this  might  be  minimized  by  proper  education  and  home  training. 

It  is  not  contended  that  the  inadequate  family  income  is  the 
sole  cause  of  immorality  for  it  is  true  that  a large  number  of  the 
girls  employed  in  stores  and  factories  are  not  compelled  to  seek 
employment  to  assist  the  family  as  the  father  is  well  able  to  support 
them.  In  these  cases  the  parents  themselves  are  greatly  to  blame 
for  not  insisting  that  they  remain  at  home  and  in  school.  It  can 
be  truthfully  stated  that  this  class  makes  it  much  more  difficult 
for  the  girl  who  must  support  herself.  Seeking  merely  an  oppor- 
tunity to  provide  themselves  with  funds  for  dress  above  the  ability 
of  the  parents  to  provide,  amusement  and  other  things,  they  accept 
positions  at  a wage  upon  which  it  would  be  impossible  for  a girl 
to  support  herself,  thereby  becoming  a menace  to  themselves 
through  opportunities  for  forming  wrong  associations,  and  to  others 
by  glutting  the  labor  market.  This  also  creates  in  them  habits  of 
extravagance  which  in  later  life  will  be  hard  to  overcome,  and  if, 
after  marriage,  they  find  themselves  unable  to  longer  gratify  this 
desire  they  become  discontented  and  often  are  lead  to  worse  things. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  while  the  wage  of  the  girl  herself 
may  not  be  the  predominating  factor  in  the  cause  of  immorality  the 

—32— 


inadequate  family  income  does  have  a direct  bearing  upon  the 
matter. 

The  obvious  duty  of  society  is,  then,  to  seek  a remedy  for  this 
condition.  Your  committee  believes  that  in  the  absence  of  the  legis- 
lation, either  through  lack  of  interest  or  through  in  ability  to  form 
laws  which  will  prove  practical,  we  must  turn  to  investigation  and 
proper  publicity  of  existing  conditions,  to  awaken  the  public  con- 
science to  the  necessity  of  conserving  our  girls  in  the  home  and  in 
the  school,  that  they  may  receive  the  care  and  training  which  will 
properly  fit  them  for  the  responsibilities  of  life. 

The  Minimum  Wage  Law. 

Whether  a minimum  wage  law  will  prove  the  practical  remedy 
for  existing  conditions  is  still  an  open  question.  It  is  being  tried 
out  in  some  states  and  one  is  now  in  force  in  Australia,  but  the 
movement  is  still  too  young  to  allow  of  a positive  opinion.  There 
are  many  considerations  which  enter  into  the  making  of  such  a law, 
especially  the  cost  of  living  which  fluctuates  from  year  to  year, 
which  would  necessitate  a law  open  to  adjustment  from  time  to 
time.  So  also  the  size  of  the  family  enters  into  it,  as  it  is  obvious 
what  would  be  a minimum  wage  for  a family  of  five  would  be  in- 
sufficient for  a family  of  eight,  and  to  strike  a fair  balance  would 
prove  a subject  worthy  of  much  thought.  Again,  locality  would 
have  much  to  do  with  it,  as  the  difference  in  the  cost  of  living  be- 
tween a large  city  and  a smaller  one  is  quite  frequently  a large  item. 
Perhaps  this  can  all  be  adjusted,  but  as  the  enactment  of  such  a law 
should  not  be  attempted  until  a statewide  investigation  is  made, 
and  as  a commission  has  now  been  appointed  to  make  this  investi- 
gation for  the  state,  this  matter  may  well  be  left  until  their  findings 
are  made  public. 

In  the  meantime  we  would  again  urge  thorough  investigation 
of  industrial  conditions  and  proper  publicity  as  a means  of  providing 
a remedy. 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Amusements  and  Morals. 

There  is  no  question  that  is  of  greater  interest  to  the  citizens  of 
Grand  Rapids,  than  the  question  of  public  amusements  and  morals. 
The  city  has  become  large  enough,  so  that  it  has  most  of  the  prob- 
lems of  the  great  centers  of  population,  but  not  so  large  but  that 
our  evils  may  be  brought  under  control,  and  many  of  them  exter- 
minated. It  is  evident  that  the  conditions  in  Grand  Rapids  are 
better  than  the  average  conditions  in  the  cities  of  its  size,  however, 
this  should  not  deter  us  from  reaching  toward  a more  ideal  condi- 
tion. 

First,  concerning  public  amusements. 

The  vaudettes  over  the  country  as  a whole  need  to  be  placed 
under  the  censorship  of  a municipal  commission.  They  can  be  more 
destructive  to  the  morals  of  young  people  than  the  dime  novel. 
Concerning  the  vaudettes  of  Grand  Rapids,  we  find  that  while  all  the 
pictures  cannot  be  approved,  that  there  seems  to  be  a willingness 

—33— 


on  the  part  of  the  management  to  co-operate  with  the  commission, 
if  such  an  arrangement  should  be  made.  We  find  that  boys  and 
girls  often  meet  in  these  places  and  go  away  together.  We  recom- 
mend that  no  person  under  eighteen  years  of  age  be  admitted  to 
the  vaudettes  of  Grand  Rapids  after  9 o’clock  unless  accompanied 
by  parents  or  guardian.  That  the  pictures  be  censored  by  the  public 
welfare  commission  at  any  time. 

One  of  the  most  destructive  form  of  amusements  are  the  public 
dance  halls.  We  will  take  as  a type  a public  dance  that  was  visited 
by  an  investigator.  Young  girls  were  found  in  this  place  without 
■escort,  girls  from  sixteen  years  and  up,  several  couples  on  the  floor 
were  dancing  suggestive  dances,  and  were  not  stopped.  Every 
public  dance  hall  should  be  licensed  by  the  city,  and  liable  to  be 
visited  at  any  time  by  a member  of  the  Public  Welfare  Commission, 
or  an  officer  thereof. 

The  same  provision  of  control,  and  supervision  should  apply  to 
every  theater  in  the  city. 

All  the  pool  rooms  and  billiard  halls  in  the  city  should  be 
brought  under  this  supervision. 

Also  all  public  skating  rinks  should  be  included  under  the 
censorship  of  the  Commission  of  Public  Welfare. 

We  now  consider  the  social  evil.  In  the  past  the  prevailing 
way  to  deal  with  this  evil  has  been  by  having  a segregated  district. 
First  of  all  this  is  the  easiest  way  for  officials  to  dispose  of  the 
problem.  In  many  cities  it  also  has  been  the  best  source  of  revenue 
for  police  officials.  However,  no  trace  of  suspicion  of  such  an 
arrangement  has  been'  found  in  all  our  investigations  in  Grand 
Rapids.  However,  we  desire  to  report  against  segregation  as  the 
ideal  way  of  dealing  with  the  social  evil,  and  we  will  not  even  admit 
that  it  is  the  practical  way.  We  cannot  have  a segregated  district 
without  being  in  partnership  with  crime.  It  is  said  that  prostitutes 
will  live  all  over  the  city  unless  we  have  the  district.  However,  if 
a permanent  commission  is  created,  these  people  cannot  live  in  the 
residence  district  without  the  neighborhood  discovering  their  char- 
acter and  it  has  been  our  experience  during  the  past  year  that  the 
neighbors  will  call  upon  the  commission  and  make  a protest,  where- 
upon the  commisssion  can  investigate,  and  then  take  proper  steps 
to  move  parties.  The  best  thought  of  the  leading  authorities  of 
these  days  is  against  segregation. 

We  find  that  the  social  evil  is  being  carried  on  in  several  ways, 
first  by  street  solicitation.  Men  are  at  work  on  the  streets  of  the 
city,  known  as  “pimps.”  There  are  also  women  who  solicit  on  the 
street.  For  example,  one  walker,  we  saw  pick  up  a man  and  take 
him  to  a certain  hotel,  where  she  had  a room  to  which  she  takes 
the  men  she  picks  up  on  the  street.  Our  investigator  had  a talk 
with  this  woman,  she  said  that  she  was  nineteen  years  old,  that 
she  had  been  married  and  was  not  living  with  her  husband,  that 
she  was  a former  inmate  of  a house  at  the  corner  of  Bond  and 


— 3T- 


Fairbanks,  that  she  averages  from  $28.00  to  $32.00  per  week.  That 
she  was  a waitress  when  she  took  her  first  wrong  step. 

In  a certain  rooming  house,  well  known,  our  investigator  during 
one  week  saw  twenty-seven  couples  going  to  rooms.  Here  some  of 
the  women  have  rooms,  where  they  bring  the  men  they  pick  up  on 
the  streets  and  others  rent  a rom  each  time  they  bring  a man.  On  a 
certain  Friday,  of  three  couples,  only,  one  registered,  none  of  the 
couples  had  baggage,  and  the  average  length  of  stay  in  the  rooming 
house  was  from  ten  to  fifteen  minutes. 

We  find  this  concerning  a well-known,  but  not  one  of  the  first 
class  hotels.  While  investigating  this  hotel  the  investigator  saw  a 
girl  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  her  dress  came  to  her  ankles,  go 
up  to  a man  on  the  street  in  front  of  the  hotel.  After  a conversation 
they  entered  the  hotel,  and  went  up  to  a room.  They  did  not 
register.  It  has  been  found  tfiat  this  hotel  rents  rooms  to  prosti- 
tutes, that  some  of  these  are  living  with  and  supporting  men  known 
as  “pimps,”  that  from  nine  o’clock  until  eleven  three  of  these  men 
stood  in  the  entrance  of  the  hotel,  that  the  man  this  young  girl 
talked  to  and  went  into  the  hotel  with,  is  now  living  with  a prosti- 
tute in  this  hotel,  that  these  women  have  men  come  to  their  rooms, 
and  that  some  of  the  women  in  this  hotel  go  out  on  the  street  and 
pick  up  men  and  come  back  with  them.  The  average  length  of  stay 
is  about  fifteen  minutes.  That  the  couples  go  right  by  the  clerk 
without  registering. 

Then  this  evil  is  being  carried  forward  in  the  residence  district, 
as  for  example,  the  report  of  the  investigator  concerning  one  resi- 
dence on  Lafayette  avenue  which  is  a sporting  house.  Only  those 
the  mistress  is  acquainted  with  or  one  vouched  for  by  a friend  can 
be  admitted.  It  is  necessary  to  call  on  the  phone  and  make  an 
appointment.  There  are  three  women  in  the  house.  I called  there 
once  and  was  refused  admittance,  then  I made  an  appointment  over 
the  phone  for  Saturday  evening  at  6:30.  I called  and  was  admitted. 
She  charges  one  dollar.  She  told  the  investigator  that  she  had  to 
be  very  careful  as  the  public  is  unusually  interested  and  that  she 
was  waiting  for  things  to  quiet  down.  This  is  an  illustration  of 
conditions  that  exist  all  over  the  city. 

The  conditions  of  morality  that  exist  in  some  of  the  stores  in 
the  city  are  the  best  and  in  others  they  are  the  worst.  In  one  store 
a phone  is  provided  on  the  floor,  where  during  the  day  the  girls 
make  dates  with  men.  In  one  store,  where  our  lady  investigator 
worked  for  some  time,  some  of  the  girls  were  immoral,  and  in  fair- 
ness it  ought  to  be  added  that  some  of  the  men  working  in  the  same 
place  were  immoral. 

We  find  from  our  investigations  that  the  causes  of  prostitution 
are  bad  company  at  the  time  that  character  is  being  formed  at  about 
the  age  of  fifteen.  A large  number  of  girls  acknowledge  that  the 
first  wrong  step  is  taken  at  that  early  age. 

The  love  of  a life  beyond  the  means  of  the  ordinary  girl,  the 

— 35 — 


passion  for  fine  clothes,  the  lack  of  education  and  instruction  along 
the  line  of  sexual  hygiene  and  low  wages,  and  the  failure  of  a great 
many  men  to  regard  the  sanctity  of  the  marriage  vow. 

What  remedy  shall  be  used? 

First — That  parents  do  their  duty,  that  they  do  not  expect  the 
city,  the  church,  or  the  Sunday  School  teacher  to  raise  their  chil- 
dren for  them,  that  all  parents  know  where  their  children  are  nights, 
and  that  they  know  it  for  an  absolute  certainty. 

Second — That  instruction  be  provided  in  a wise  way  for  both 
boys  and  girls  as  to  the  awful  results  in  a physical  way  of  the  trans- 
gression of  the  laws  of  nature. 

Third— That  every  woman  be  given  a living  wage,  and  that  the 
corporations  and  employers  paying  a wage  to  women,  known  to  be 
less  than  can  be  lived  upon  be  brought  under  the  ban  of  the  public  by 
exposure. 

Fourth — That  women  be  everywhere  urged  to  the  use  of  ordi- 
nary clothes,  and  that  they  wear  plenty  of  them.  Immodest  dress 
is  a pitfall. 

Fifth — That  all  property  owners  be  held  responsible  for  the 
character  of  their  tenants.  That  when  the  commission  is  satisfied 
that  any  property  is  being  used  for  immoral  purposes,  that  a notice 
be  given  to  the  owner  of  the  property,  giving  said  owner  ten  days 
to  issue  a notice  to  the  tenant  to  move,  and  that  if  the  tenant  has  not 
moved  at  the  end  of  thirty  days,  that  the  exposure  and  prosecution 
of  the  owner  follow  by  placing  all  the  evidence  in  the  hands  of  the 
proper  authorities. 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  HEALTH  AND  HOUSING. 

The  health  of  any  city  is  in  direct  ratio  with  good  or  bad  hous- 
ing conditions. 

The  conditions  of  this  city  needing  attention  are,  better  toilet 
facilities,  power  to  enforce  water  and  sewers  into  streets  where 
needed,  the  right  to  enforce  sewer  and  water  connections  into  homes 
inside  of  three  years  after  such  improvements  have  been  made,  an 
ordinance  to  prevent  the  overcrowding  of  houses  and  the  collection 
of  general  municipal  waste. 

We  recommend: 

First — A revision  of  the  plumbing  code,  so  as  to  provide  an 
indoor  closet  for  each  family. 

Second — That  sewer  and  water  street  improvement  may  be 
made  upon  order  of  Board  of  Health. 

Three — That  private  sewers  be  installed  by  the  city  when 
necessary  on  the  five-year  plan. 

Four — That  houses  or  rooms  shall  be  limited  as  to  the  number 
of  occupants. 

Five — That  a general  collection  of  municipal  waste  be  installed. 

—36— 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  LEGISLATION. 

Your  commimttee  recommends  the.establishment  of  a board  of 
commission  to  be  known  as  the  Public  Welfare  Commission,  whose 
duties  and  powers  should  include  the  following,  viz. : 

(a)  The  investigation  of  the  moral,  social  and  industrial  con- 
ditions of  the  city  and  their  inter  relationship,  maintaining  a record 
and  reporting  the  same  to  the  Commomn  Council. 

(b)  The  supervision  and  controlling  of  the  housing  conditions, 
the  supervision  and  controlling  of  a free  legal  aid  bureau,  the  dance 
halls,  skating  rinks,  vaudettes,  moving  picture  and  other  theaters, 
etc.  Its  representatives  to  be  in  regular  attendance  at  the  courts  of 
the  city  and  county  and  to  co-operate  with  the  police  departments 
and  courts  to  prevent  as  far  as  possible  immorality  and  delinquency 
and  to  assist  in  reforming  and  restoring  those  who  have  fallen  and 
to  aid  in  securing  pardon  and  parole  for  the  deserving  ones. 

(c)  The  investigators  of  this  commission  to  be  clothed  with 
police  powers. 

(d)  The  appointment  of  such  clerical  help  and  investigators 
as  may  be  required  to>  prosecute  the  work  of  this  commission  expe- 
ditiously and  thoroughly. 

Your  committee  further  recommends  that  this  commission  be 
composed  of  five  members  to  be  appointed  by  the  mayor  subject  to 
approval  of  the  Common  Council.  The  term  of  office  to  be  five 
years.  One  commissioner  to  be  appointed  annually  after  first  year. 
Removal  from  office  by  mayor  for  cause,  subject  to  appeal  to  the 
Common  Council. 

The  Council  to  annually  provide  a sufficient  sum  of  money  in 
the  budget  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  commission. 

The  commission  to  meet  at  least  once  a week. 

The  commission  shall  receive  no  salary  except  that  a $5.00  per 
diem  per  member  may  be  charged  whenever  special  exigencies  re- 
quire sessions  during  the  daytime.  The  commission  shall  file  a 
monthly  report  with  the  Common  Council. 

We  recommend  the  passage  of  an  ordinance  to  supervise  and 
control  public  dancing  and  dance  halls.  This  ordinance  should  con- 
tain the  following  provisions. 

(a)  An  adequate  fee  to  be  deposited  with  the  Welfare  Com- 
mission together  with  the  application  for  each  public  dance. 

(b)  The  presence  of  a representative  of  the  permanent  Wel- 
fare Commission  to  be  established,  clothed  with  police  powers,  at 

every  such  public  dance. 

(c)  A definition  of  what  constitutes  a public  dance. 

(d)  No  dance  to  be  permitted  after  11 :30  p.  m. 

(e)  No  person  under  18  years  of  age  shall  be  permitted  to 
attend  without  parent  or  guardian. 

(f)  The  absolute  prohibition  of  any  dances,  postures  or  atti- 

— 37 — 


tudes  of  person  of  a suggestive  nature  or  that  would  be  indecent 
if  allowed  any  where  else  in  public. 

(g)  The  requiring  of  an  adequate  bond  from  the  proprietors 
or  managers  which  shall  be  made  payable  to  the  city  and  forfeited 
automatically  when  ever  the  proprietors  or  managers  are  found 
guilty  of  violating  the  laws  of  the  state  or  ordinances  of  the  city  in 
a court  of  competent  jurisdiction.  Provided  that  where  an  occa- 
sional public  dance  is  given  by  a society  or  other  organization  the 
commmission  shall  have  power  to  grant  such  permit  without  filing 
of  bond. 

Second — We  recommend  the  passage  of  an  ordinance  to  license, 
supervise  and  control  the  exhibition  of  moving  pictures,  stereopti- 
con  views  or  other  views  and  pictures,  penny  arcades,  vaudeville, 
opera  houses,  theaters  and  playhouses.  This  ordinance  should  con- 
tain the  following  provisions. 

(a)  An  adequate  annual  license  fee. 

(b)  The  Welfare  Commission  or  its  representative  shall  pass 
upon  every  play,  scene,  or  picture  to  be  presented  in  the  theaters 
and  playhouses  of  the  city  and  none  shall  be  permitted  to  exhibit 
without  their  written  approval. 

(c)  The  absolute  prohibition  of  any  dress,  dances,  postures  or 
attitudes  of  person  of  suggestive  nature  or  that  would  be  indecent 
it  permitted  elsewhere  in  public. 

We  recommend  an  amendment  to  the  ordinance  to  suppress 
immorality  and  prostitution.  This  amendment  should  contain  the 
following  provisions: 

(a)  Publicity — The  commission  shall  ascertain  the  location 
and  owners  of  every  property  within  the  city  used  for  immoral  pur- 
poses and  report  this  information  to  the  Common  Council  once 
every  six  months. 

The  following  amendments  are  designed  to  prevent  the  illegal 
sale  of  liquor  in  rooming  houses: 

(a)  The  possession  of  a Federal  Government  liquor  tax  re- 
ceipt for  the  year,  without  a city  license  to  be  sufficient  evidence  of 
the  illegal  sale  of  such  liquors  and  conviction  of  the  person  or 
persons. 

(b)  Your  committee  recommends  the  initiation  of  a movement 
for  the  passage  of  an  amendment  to  the  Federal  liquor  tax  law  as 
follows : 

The  United  States  Government  not  to  receive  any  moneys  for 
the  Federal  liquor  tax  from  any  person,  persons,  company  or  cor- 
porations until  said  persons  or  companies  shall  have  deposited  with 
the  department  issuing  said  liquor  tax  a certificate  of  good  moral 
character  for  said  person  signed  by  the  license  granting  body  of 
the  municipality  or  township  in  which  said  applicant  desires  to  con- 
duct his  liquor  business. 

(c)  Your  committee  recommends  the  strictest  possible  en- 
forcement of  the  law  against  mashers,  hustlers,  street  walkers,  im- 
moral persons  and  prostitutes  in  the  firm  belief  that  constant  repres- 
sion and  eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  a clean  moral  social  state. 

— 3&— 


PUBLIC  WELFARE  COMMISSION. 

Statement  of  Receipts  and  Expenditures. 

Receipts. 

Appropriated  by  the  Common  Council... $1,000.00 

Expenditures. 

February  17,  1913,  stationery... $ 8.50 

March  2,  1913,  blanks 15.00 

April  2,  1913,  expenses  F.  A.  Zierleyn  to  Lansing 7.16 

April  23,  1913,  Salary  and  expenses  of  investigators 81.89 

May  5,  1913,  Form  letters... 1.50 

May  5,  1913,  Salary  and  expenses  of  investigators 73.45 

May  14,  1913,  Salary  and  expenses  of  investigators 36.40 

May  21,  1913,  Salary  and  expenses  of  investigators 37.25 

May  28,  1913,  Salary  and  expenses  of  investigators 35.80 

June  4,  1913,  salary  and  expenses  of  investigators 36.80 

June  11,  1913,  Salary  and  expenses  of  investigators 35.95 

June  18,  1913,  Salary  and  expenses  of  investigators 35.80 

June  25,  1913,  Salary  and  expenses  of  investigators 34.80 

October  27,  1913,  Investigations  and  compiling  reports 97.23 

November  6,  1913,  Supplies  and  typewriting  report 10.05 


Total $ 547.58 

Balance  452.42 


$1,000.00 

JAMES  HOOGERHYDE,  Secy 


—39— 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


3 0112  053617244 


